CD Review: Le Trio Joubran - Majaz

I confess that when I first heard Le Trio Joubran a few years ago, I wasn't immediately hooked. My personal preferences at that point were running toward upbeat, bouncy music, and Le Trio Joubran's brand of quiet, contemplative and improvisational Palestinian oud music just didn't quite fit that bill. However, something has changed in the past couple of years - either my taste is expanding, or I'm finally growing out of my hyperactive teenage phase (which is good, because I haven't been a teenager in quite awhile), and therefore starting to appreciate quietude a little bit more.

At any rate, I was taken aback by how much I really liked Le Trio Joubran's latest CD, Majaz. While the musicianship is extraordinary, the most amazing strength of the album is the power of the space between the notes, something that all three of the Joubran brothers (the oud players), as well as their percussionist, seem to have really mastered. Give it a listen for yourself, and tell us what you think.