By Venkat Raman, *Fill your soul with some Sufi music* - Indian Newslink - Auckland, New ZealandTuesday, April 13, 2010
When Shoshan, the new album by celebrated artiste Shye Ben Tzur arrived by post just an hour after our last issue went to printers, the immediate response was to issue a Stop Press but we thought we would serve our readers better by writing a review.
The 12-track CD, due for release on April 16, comprises songs in Hebrew, Urdu and Hindi.
It is certainly one of a kind.
Chennai based EarthSync is releasing the album for worldwide sale. The title track Intro Shoshan, followed by Shoshan is so lilting that it would be hard to resist the temptation to hit the replay button.
I was told that Shoshan means ‘Rose’ in Hebrew; by any other name, this album of songs would have been as melodious as they are now. Dil Ke Bahar is another track that would hold you spellbound. The intro entrances, as does the main song.
Vocalist Shubha Mudgal, Spanish Flamenco Guitarist Fernando Perez, Qawwals Zaki Nizami, Mohamad Zakir Elias Aghan and Rajasthani artistes Kutla Khan, Chugge Khan, Rais Khan, Aziz Khan, Chand Nizami and Safi add value to the album with their superb performances.
Testifying the adage that music transcends languages, Shye Ben Tzur has written most of the songs in his native Hebrew. “Even those who do not know the language will enjoy, so long as the music touches their heart,” he said. Ben Tzur respects and follows the finer aspects of Sufism but has retained his original religious identity.
His passion for Sufi music, culture and literature encouraged him to compose music with a touch of Sufism in Hebrew.
More than a decade ago, Ben Tzur arrived in India and was instantly attracted by the folk tunes of North India, especially Rajasthan. Seated in a concert at which Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia (Flute) and Ustad Zakir Hussain (Tabla) performed, he decided to bring the depth of Indian music to his repertoire.
His journey towards achieving proficiency began under the pedagogy of Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar, one of the foremost vocalists of the ‘Dhrupad,’ stated to be the oldest form of Hindustani Classical Music.
‘Shoshan is a collaboration of enchanting devotional poetry, irresistible Rajasthani rhythms and electrifying Western grooves. “Although the collaboration celebrates different kinds of devotional poetry, Sufi is the soul of the album,” he said.
While much is made of the fact that Ben Tzur’s music (merging Hebrew with Islamic-Sufi traditions) speaks of peace and reconciliation, the artiste has no agenda. “I am not making any political statements,” he said.
“If someone says that my music bridges these two cultures, my answer would be that I do not see much need for a bridge because I don’t see much difference between them. “Maybe I am blind, but nothing feels foreign. Whatever differences there are, they are part of the divine harmony,” he said.
The 34-year-old lyricist, composer and singer lives in Tel Aviv with his wife Sajida and their little daughter Uriya.
When Shoshan, the new album by celebrated artiste Shye Ben Tzur arrived by post just an hour after our last issue went to printers, the immediate response was to issue a Stop Press but we thought we would serve our readers better by writing a review.
The 12-track CD, due for release on April 16, comprises songs in Hebrew, Urdu and Hindi.
It is certainly one of a kind.
Chennai based EarthSync is releasing the album for worldwide sale. The title track Intro Shoshan, followed by Shoshan is so lilting that it would be hard to resist the temptation to hit the replay button.
I was told that Shoshan means ‘Rose’ in Hebrew; by any other name, this album of songs would have been as melodious as they are now. Dil Ke Bahar is another track that would hold you spellbound. The intro entrances, as does the main song.
Vocalist Shubha Mudgal, Spanish Flamenco Guitarist Fernando Perez, Qawwals Zaki Nizami, Mohamad Zakir Elias Aghan and Rajasthani artistes Kutla Khan, Chugge Khan, Rais Khan, Aziz Khan, Chand Nizami and Safi add value to the album with their superb performances.
Testifying the adage that music transcends languages, Shye Ben Tzur has written most of the songs in his native Hebrew. “Even those who do not know the language will enjoy, so long as the music touches their heart,” he said. Ben Tzur respects and follows the finer aspects of Sufism but has retained his original religious identity.
His passion for Sufi music, culture and literature encouraged him to compose music with a touch of Sufism in Hebrew.
More than a decade ago, Ben Tzur arrived in India and was instantly attracted by the folk tunes of North India, especially Rajasthan. Seated in a concert at which Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia (Flute) and Ustad Zakir Hussain (Tabla) performed, he decided to bring the depth of Indian music to his repertoire.
His journey towards achieving proficiency began under the pedagogy of Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar, one of the foremost vocalists of the ‘Dhrupad,’ stated to be the oldest form of Hindustani Classical Music.
‘Shoshan is a collaboration of enchanting devotional poetry, irresistible Rajasthani rhythms and electrifying Western grooves. “Although the collaboration celebrates different kinds of devotional poetry, Sufi is the soul of the album,” he said.
While much is made of the fact that Ben Tzur’s music (merging Hebrew with Islamic-Sufi traditions) speaks of peace and reconciliation, the artiste has no agenda. “I am not making any political statements,” he said.
“If someone says that my music bridges these two cultures, my answer would be that I do not see much need for a bridge because I don’t see much difference between them. “Maybe I am blind, but nothing feels foreign. Whatever differences there are, they are part of the divine harmony,” he said.
The 34-year-old lyricist, composer and singer lives in Tel Aviv with his wife Sajida and their little daughter Uriya.
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1 comment:
Hi,
Shye Ben Tzur is performing live in Israel. Two shows on Shoshan Live! April 24th at Shuni in Binyamina and April 30th at Reading in Tel Aviv.
Do help us spread the word. Thanks.
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