Known as the oud conjuror, Anouar Brahem is the master of bringing out acoustic magic from the ancient traditional oriental lute. The oud instrument represents the musical heritage of both the Arab and Islamic world.

The Anouar Brahem Quartet will be performing 'The Astounding Eyes of Rita', a delightful new composition by the Tunisian oud master.

The combination of the bass clarinet with the oud suggests a link to his Thimar trio, but this East and West line-up often feels closer to the more traditionally-inclined sounds of Barzakh or Conte de l'Incroyable Amour.

Klaus Gesing, from Norma Winstone's Trio, and Björn Meyer, from Nik Bärtsch's Ronin, are both players with an affinity for musical sources beyond jazz and they interact persuasively inside Brahem's music. 

This is a performance of dark, warm sounds, urged onwards by the darbouka and frame drum of Lebanese percussionist Khaled Yassine. The album is dedicated to the memory of the late Palestinian poet, Mahmoud Darwish.