Belly Dance! The Best of George Abdo and His Flames of Araby Orchestra
November 7, 2009 by admin
Filed under Belly Dancing Music
Album Description
Known as “The King of Belly Dance Music,” George Abdo and his Flames of Araby Orchestra combine Syrian, Lebanese, Egyptian, Armenian, Greek, and Turkish musical traditions to create a uniquely American belly dance soundsca… More >>
Belly Dance! The Best of George Abdo and His Flames of Araby Orchestra
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My personal love affair with Middle Eastern music began with the music of George Abdo, and some of his songs, such as “Hadouni, Hadouni” and “Raks Mustapha,” are among my absolute favorite world music compositions. This particular compilation issued by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings contains some of George Abdo’s greatest hits and can serve as an excellent introduction to the music of Belly-Dance and Middle Eastern music in general.
It’s hard to imagine that just a few decades ago Middle Eastern culture was considered hip and fashionable in the United States. After decades of political turmoil, years of Intifada, rise of fundamentalist Islamic terrorism, and overwhelming anti-Arabic propaganda that dominated American movie and TV screens since the late 70s, the Middle Eastern culture is anything but hip. However that was not the case in the 60s and 70s decades of the 20th century – time when Middle East was considered exotic and yes – hip. During that time, dozens of Middle Eastern restaurants and night clubs prospered and American public embraced the exotic Middle Eastern culture.
Many of cultures are divided in their homeland by animosity caused by differences in religion, centuries of warfare, and mutual genocides. However once removed from native soil immigrants from Syria, Palestine, Iraq, Turkey, Armenia, Jordan, Israel, and other Middle-Eastern countries quickly discovered that despite their differences, they shared common cultural background manifested in similar culture, cuisine, music, and dance. This common cultural background once transplanted onto American soil gave rise to a fascinating musical genre – not quite Middle Eastern in the traditional sense, and yet not completely Americanized. Eddie Kochak, one of the prominent figures of this musical scene called this unusual genre Ameraba – American Arabic Music. However, even this term is too restrictive – this music can be equally claimed by a variety of ethnicities, and this fact made it truly American, in the “melting-pot” kind of sense. For convenience, we could call it Belly-dance music. Belly-dancing was exceedingly popular, and Anglo-Saxon house-wives engaged in belly-dancing routines were more common than authentic Middle Eastern belly-dancers. Places like Club Zara and Averof Restaurant quickly became the centers of the belly-dancing sub-culture, catering Pan-Middle-Eastern culture, décor, cuisine, dance, and of course music to Americans and immigrants alike. And George Abdo was the undisputed king of the Belly-Dancing scene.
George Abdo and his multi-ethnic Flames of Araby Orchestra, created some of the most beautiful musical compositions, generously spiced with virtuoso improvisations on various acoustic instruments, traditional Middle Eastern melodies, authentic compositions, and occasional touches of guitars, violins, or keyboards. His music cannot be considered truly traditional; however George Abdo’s belly-dance routines are predominantly acoustic and lack the drum-machine and keyboard sound that dominates the modern Middle Eastern pop music. Being neither traditional nor modern his music belongs in the smoked up Middle Eastern restaurants of the 60s and 70s. It is best enjoyed with grape leaf mezzas, lamb kebobs, occasional shot of anise vodka, dabkah line-dancing, and of course – a belly-dancer.
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Rating: 5 / 5
Fabulous old-time belly dance music. They don’t make music like this much any more. More’s the pity.
Plus, you have to love an album with a costume this ugly on the cover.
Rating: 5 / 5
My teacher recommended that I practice bellydancing to George Abdo since he arranged and played for American audiences. This compilation is wonderful. Abdo’s orchestra includes musicians from various Middle Eastern countries playing traditional instruments that are comfortable to Western ears. The 15 cuts include vocals, instrumentals, boleros, dance suites, dabka, love ballads, etc. Don’t miss the 25-page information-packed booklet that is included. A classic must-have album of bellydance music of the 1970’s.
Rating: 5 / 5
Dont let the gaudy album cover scare you away! The name George Abdo is synonymous with great bellydance music and your music collection is not complete without him. Seriously.
Whether you are tribal or oriental or somewhere in between you will love this vintage “harem girl” style bellydance CD. The music is exotic and intoxicating, the finger cymbals astounding. George Abdo never disappoints with his warm vocals and amazing Flames of Araby Orchestra!! A total classic.
Rating: 5 / 5
How exciting that George’s music has been re-issued on CD! I performed and taught in RI and Boston during the years George was at the Averof and always used his records while teaching. His music is lyrical and lovely with distinct rhythms that are especially easy for beginners to follow.
For dancers who are learning to play their zils (finger cymbals) this CD is a must. The zil-playing is excellent. Is that Kasim we hear on zils?
I’m new at downloading music and wonder how to get the notes that are normally on a CD jacket. I’m curious to see who the backup musicians are…from the reviews I know that Ed Melikian is one. Who are the others?
Rating: 5 / 5