if i like the arabic and south asian sounds in jazz artists like sun ra's music, what should i investigate?

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anyone know what arabic or south asian music i should look into?

― titchyschneider (titchyschneider), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 18:02 (twenty years ago)

With a few exceptions, I don't actually hear anything that sounds very Arabic in Sun Ra's music (although I happen to like Sun Ra and Arabic music a lot). I could link to my generic Arabic threads, or I could try to figure out what you want. How do you feel about vocally oriented music? Most of the Arabic music I like is heavy on the vocals. (Okay, so Sun Ra was just one example.)

I don't know anything much about South Asian music.

― Rockist_Scientist (RSLaRue), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 19:02 (twenty years ago)

generic arabic threads would be great - thanks. the sun ra cosmic tones album has what sounds like arabic music to me at the start. or i could be wrong perhaps?

― titchyschneider (titchyschneider), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 19:39 (twenty years ago)

Arabic music (not elsewhere classified)
Arab, Persian, Sufi music
Oudists: S/D
Oum Kalthoum, Om Kolthom, Om Kalsoum, Omm Kalsoum, Omme Kolsoum, Oom Koolsum, Oum Kalthoum, Oum Kalthum, Oum Kalsoum, Oum Kaltsoum, Oum Kolthoum, Oum Koulsoum, Oum Kulthum, Oum Kulthume, Um Kalthoum, Um Kolthoum, Umm Kulthum, Umm Kalsoum, Umm Kalthum, Ummu Kulthum, Umm Kulthume: Classic or Greatest Singer of the 20th Century?

― Rockist_Scientist (RSLaRue), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 19:45 (twenty years ago)

sublime frequencies, folkways, nonesuch...just go digging

― bb (bbrz), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 19:46 (twenty years ago)

Going backwards— get Sketches of Spain.

― js (honestengine), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 19:58 (twenty years ago)

Ravi Shankar

― o. nate (onate), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 19:59 (twenty years ago)

x-post

Also, there are several threads about Indian music, if you search.

― Rockist_Scientist (RSLaRue), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 20:03 (twenty years ago)

Look for things with wind instruments, basically (so ignore the oud thread).

― Rockist_Scientist (RSLaRue), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 20:13 (twenty years ago)

I think there is an Arab/South Indian influence on Sun Ra's music. There are some obvious tracks like "India" which is inspired by that music. Then I think there are some influences just in terms of the improvisational raga style of e.g. Shankar on jazz & esp. free jazz in general. Then there are some modal influences, in the exotic vamps that Ra likes to use on many tracks. Even the name "Sun Ra" bespeaks a Middle Eastern influence. Also, the hand-made percussion on many Sun Ra albums have a non-Western sound.

― o. nate (onate), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 20:25 (twenty years ago)

Sun Ra's "exotic" influences tended to be cribbed from closer to home - Les Baxter, Martin Denny, etc. I don't think Sun Ra really had much access (at least early on) to indiginous South Asian/Arabic music.

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 20:37 (twenty years ago)

thanks o.nate - anything i could look into that youd recommend?

― titchyschneider (titchyschneider), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 20:45 (twenty years ago)

Hmm, well, unfortunately my knowledge in this area is not the greatest. I wasn't kidding about the Shankar recommendation - I have this album called Two Raga Moods that combines Shankar with a tabla player and another percussion instrument, and they get a sort of nice spacey hash vibe going that wouldn't be entirely out of place on a Sun Ra album. Another recommendation - though it strays a bit geographically - would be an album of Burmese music called Sandaya: The Spellbinding Piano of Burma - some very out-there piano and vocal stuff that would slot nicely alongside Sun Ra tracks.

― o. nate (onate), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 21:11 (twenty years ago)

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