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By Mike Hobart

The saxophonist/clarinettist eloquently mixes modal jazz, Middle Eastern scales and funky beats

Gilad Atzmon’s seventh album with his long-running quartet is a peon to a recent past, when urban spaces belonged to the people who lived in them, and cities had distinct emotional characters.

The saxophonist/clarinettist portrays the idiosyncrasies with a masterly blend of controlled passion and sharp focus, eloquently mixing modal jazz, Middle Eastern scales and funky beats.

“Vienna” is captured with a charming waltz, tragedy-haunted “Tel Aviv” with a funk-driven mash-up and “Buenos Aires” with a haunting, stately theme that gains pathos from an echo of accordion.

Gilad Atzmon & the Orient House Ensemble

Songs of the Metropolis

(World Village)

Songs of the Metropolis - Gilad Atzm...

Gilad Atzmon & The...

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