Track Listing

1. West Naima (Naima's Hip)
2. Kholkhal Taheyya (Taheyya's Ankle)
3. Khatwet Serena (Serena's Step)
4. Amiret el Sahara (Desert Princess)
5. Sha-Awit Katie (Katie's Cheeky Playfulness)
6. Samya's Solo
7. Brazilian Pearls
8. Belhadawa Walla Belshaawa? (Rough or Cool?)
9. Lucy the Magnificent
10. Dalloua (The Coy, Spoiled One)
11. We Baadin Ommaal
12. Genneyya (The Djinni)
13. Ghareeb (How Odd)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #35759 in Music
• Released on: 2002-03-12
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Import

Amazon.com
If you think belly-dancing music is simple, this CD from Cairo-born percussionist Hossam Ramzy, the leader of Pharaoh's Egyptian Ensemble (he also toured with Robert Plant and Debbie Harry), will correct that assumption. Ramzy is a master of the darbouka, the Egyptian version of the tabla; the title of this CD is actually an inverted play on words for "solo tabla." It contains about 45 minutes of intricate and ingenious pre-Islamic, Arabic, and world-beat-influenced solos and rhythms. With other percussion instruments supporting the darbouka, Ramzy creates a fresh, fertile crescent of sound stretching from the Nile to the Middle East, Morocco, and beyond. The track "Brazilian Pearls" features samba-fied grooves thrown in for good measure. An informative booklet details the rhythms of these Saharan syncopations, from "West Naima (Naima's Hip)" to "Samya's Solo." With stealth and skill, Hossam Ramzy shows us the legacy of his land through the belly dancer's hypnotic hips. --Eugene Holley Jr.

Customer Reviews

my steering wheel hates me :(
I'm a percussionist, but don't worry, that doesn't mean I biased towards this kind of stuff. I actually don't care for most modern percussion solos as they tend to be chaotic and thus boring. For most people, percussion solos are something to mildly enjoy in small doses mainly due to the overbearing tone of many percussion instruments. The tabla is actually very dynamic (which makes it very expressive) and imo has one of the lesser "in your face" tones.

That being said, this really is a great CD. Hossam really knows his stuff and it shows. But it's not all showboating. This is very technical, but actually extremely catchy at the same time which is a rarity. You'd have to be near dead to not physically respond to this music. I've not seen a person yet that didn't start tapping their feet or tapping their fingers... and these are people that get annoyed at my habit of doing that. Very infectuous.

The only downside to this CD is I think my steering wheel might fall off from my beating it so hard while driving or sitting at a light. Well, that and I probably look crazy beating the wheel and bobbing my head around. Be forewarned ;)

All drums!
I got this cd about 2 years ago and I'm still listening to it. It's great for practicing hip and pelvic work, and more experienced dancers will be able to do other moves to it. In fact, I think more experienced dancers will benefit the most from this cd. Beginning students will find it too complex and overwhelming, but I would recommend that beginning students start with one easy song and practice movements to it then move on to another cd. If you're a fan of drums and like nothing but drums then this is the cd for you!

Oh yeh!!!
If this CD doesn't make you get up and move, you must not be breathing. Absolutely wonderful for belly dancing, driving, or anything!

And the list of people he has played with, from Robert Plant and Jimmy Page to Pino Daniele and Yesim Salkim ~ an absolute tribute to his talent.

Absolutely perfect ~ sit back, turn on the CD and see if you can stay still. Just try.