Vision

Oudist Tarik Banzi takes up the challenge of the instrument on this disc, often playing it utterly solo, at other times with sparse accompaniment ("Exodus," which also features Brazilian berimbau, is perhaps the most intriguing pairing). His original compositions aren't traditional in execution, by any means, but owe many of their ideas to the North African and Middle Eastern tradition of music, with plenty of improvisation. Banzi is a superbly gifted player — simply listen to the opening "Intimacy" to hear how fleet his fingers can be. But above all, this is an album of ideas and imagination, such as the use of oud, electric oud, and percussion on "Maristan," or the slow teasing out of thoughts on the epic "Vision." Also a member of Al-Andalus, Banzi is a confident musician; there's nothing tentative about these performances or, indeed, about his writing. This is a disc that stands neatly alone as a testament to the oudist's art.