I love the oud, but I also tend to be pretty fussy about solo oud
recordings. This new one on Smithsonian Folkways is quite wonderful.
It serves a didactic purpose, certainly, providing an introduction to
various maqamat (with good liner notes), but it's also very good
listening. I find Rahim Al Haj's oud playing warmer sounding and less
severe than Munir Bachir's (or that of a number of Munir Bachir's
students).
(Does anyone read this group? Are there many lurkers? Is everyone off
somewhere also talking about Haifa Wehbe?)
