Abou-Khalil, Rabih - Blue Camel - LP 180 Gr.

Blue Camel, apparently a nod to the fusion of Arabian camels with blue notes, is exactly the record its name suggests: sort of blue, but not quite. Not only is the record oud player and composer Rabih Abou-Khalil's finest effort to date, it has been dubbed "a new kind of blue".

Beyond the individual qualities of each player, the teamwork and selflessness on Blue Camel is truly remarkable. Abou-Khalil typically alternates solos with Charlie Mariano on alto sax and trumpet and Kenny Wheeler, but a wide gamut of instruments is offered to throw in the towel, most notably varied percussion exploring African, Indian and South American music . One could listen for rhythmic satisfaction alone.