THE PLOT THUS FAR
Named by the Washington Post as a “gorgeous pianist/composer/hunk,” and recognized by The Washington Times as “Jordan’s leading Cultural Ambassador (who) dedicates his music to building bridges of peace and tolerance,” the young Jordanian composer and pianist ZADE makes his television performance debut joined by one hundred musicians from 40 nations to present “a message of peace to the world” in Zade – One Night In Jordan: A Concert for Peace airing as a PBS special in 2010.
WHAT WE THOUGHT
Zades lavishly orchestrated Middle Eastern-inflected, minor-key neo-romantic soundscapes have a lot more in common with the Alan Parsons Project or Richard Wagner than they do with pioneering Middle Eastern composers like the Iranian Abolhassan Sabeh, who, like Zade, would utilize the even tunings of the western scale. Ironically, its the little touches here that resonate the loudest: the brief yet viscerally haunting ney flute solo at the end of the tango.
As a welcome change of pace, featured performer Jana lends her vocals to “Comes to an End,” backed by the impressive choir. Finally, “Kingdom of Peace” best exemplifies the blending of Eastern and Western influences, with its dance beat and string-laden arrangement.
The DVD makes for a welcome companion to the rather amazing World Music CD. I wish that there was a cleaner transfer for the DVD. I could’ve swore that I watched this on PBS HD not more than a month ago. Where is that clear transfer? Oh well, if you’re a fan…you will want to make the purchase.
RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW!
