Recommendations - Drum Solos

Drum Solos

OK – I’ll come clean – I LOVE drum solos so I have to recommend all of the below!

OOJAMI

Turkish born, London based, writer, producer, Necmi Cavli is the driving force behind Oojami. In these two albums Oojami fuse Turkish elements with a myriad of cultural traditions. Popular with a wide range of Middle Eastern Dancers, these tracks can be used by teachers teaching how to shimmy, keep to the strong rhythm and even venture in to the world of the Belly Dance Superstar and into ATS.

Bellydance Breakbeats
OOJAMI- Bellydance Breakbeats

Track listing:

Chicky; 5:08
Fantasy; 5:06
Urban Dervish; 5:56
Desert Fish; 5:07
Sitare; 4:59
Vuslat; 5:28
Azize; 4:49
Istanboogie; 5:26
Esrar; 4:36
Zenne; 5:40
Boomzaza; 5:43
Boda; 4:29
Palas; 4:42
Tin Tin; 5:35
Neyzen; 5:14

Review:

Its great – if you like DJ mixed tracks that is! Some of these have been made famous by the Belly Dance Superstars but are still good for class practice. Personal favourites include Sitare and TinTin.

Urban Dervish

OOJAMI- Urban Dervish

Track listing:

Another World; 5:01
Ararim; 4:10
Sunny; 4:47
Justice; 5:54
Then I Cry; 5:09
Dunya; 4:37
Karvan: 5:12
Ali; 4:53
Identity; 4:33
Vanity; 4:44
Leyli; 4:28
Almost Loved You; 4:36
Ali (Trans Global Underground Remix); 5:53
Ararim (Friends, Family & Lovers Remix); 5:52

Review:

All great – this second album is as good as the former. I use these extensively for drill training in class. Personal favourites = Ali and Ararim.

HOSSAM RAMZY - Sabla Tolo
Journeys into pure Egyptian Percussion
EUCD1581

Hossam Ramzy presents thirteen compositions of tabla and percussion solso. It covers a wide range of rhythms from Egypt, the Middle East, all the way across to Morocco with new rhythms created by Hossam for the Egyptian dance. The booklet contains explanations for each of the solos with rhythms, time signatures, numbers of bars, etc. for dancers.
HOSSAM RAMZY - Sabla Tolo - Journeys into pure Egyptian Percussion
Track listing:-

West Naima- Naima's Hip. 3:21
Kholkhal Taheyya- Taheyya's Ankle. 3:23
Khatwet Serena, Serena's Step. 3:50
Amiret El Sahara, Desert Princess. 3:41
Sha-Awat Katie- Katie's Cheeky Playfullness. 4:05
Samya's Solo. 3:17
Brazilian Pearls. 2:52
Belhadawa Walla Belshaawa- Rough or cool? 3:34
Lucy, The Magnificient. 3>20
Dalloua- The coy, spoiled one. 3:47
We Baadin Ommaal- 4:04
El Genneyya- The Djinni. 3:56
Ghareeb- How odd. 4:00

HOSSAM RAMZY - Sabla Tolo II
Journeys into pure Egyptian Percussion
Further Journeys into Pure Egyptian Percussion
EUCD1806

A collection of Egyptian tabla and percussion solos for bellydance. Once again the accompanying booklet is an invaluable resource.
HOSSAM RAMSY-Sabla Tolo II
Track Listing:-

Wana Be-Ied Annak When I am not near you 5.06
Harrira & Basboosa 3.15
My Brazilian Pearl 4.06
El Esma Wel Ma-Soom Our Fate 4.09
Amar El Sahara The Moon of the Sahara 4.31
Wady Samba Ala El Malfuf Samba over Malfuf 3.24
Halloween 4.16
Oyoun El Fallaha The Eyes of a Fallaha 3.46
Ya Gama-A Calling all the Group 3.42
Hawary Al Qahira The Back Streets of Cairo 4.12
La' Bel Hadawa No, Cool and Gently, Please 3.08
Ya Sha- Eyya You Naughty, Playful Girl 4.17
Rakataka 3.59

Review of both I and II

Very very good – what are you waiting for- go and buy them! Good for end of class shimmy time, demonstrating rhythms, changes in tempo, style and musical interpretation ( made easier for a teacher because of the great liner notes!)

AMERA- Al Ra' Kasa We Tabbal

AMERA02

A great Tabla Solo CD with strong introductions and finales.

AMERA- Al Ra' Kasa We Tabbal

Track listing:

Raks al Ra"kassa! 3.17
Ya Amera 3.21
Solo Nuria 2.11
Naar El Hawa (Fire of Love) 4.50
Afro-Arabic solo 3.47
The Heart of the Oud (Taksim) 3.00
Mowashahat "Lamma Bada Yatathanna" 3.27

Review:

It's ok – I do like it – and the tracks are short – but you don’t get much music for your money and I haven’t danced to any of them for a performance – but it makes nice listening.