Oriental Dance music with ‘Stage Cuts’

Stage Cuts is a fine album of Oriental Dance music. The tracks are compiled by Jalilah Raks Sharki for dancers and festivals.

Jalilah was the principal choreographer for “Karawane,” a dance-theater project. Jalilah, also known as Lorraine Zamora Chamas, conducts workshops in dance. Stage Cuts is intended for fans of belly dancing, or those wanting to hear Egyptian music. For the album, Jalilah assembled a creative team that includes Mokhtar Al-Said, Hossam Shaker, who graduated from the Higher Institute of Arabic Music in Cairo, and Ihsan Al-Mounzer, who studied at Cairo University and composes music for Raks Sharki.

Gypsy music pervades the album. Some tracks are smooth, but others are maddeningly repetitive. The album, as a whole, is heavy on orchestration and light on vocals. Tambourine and other kinds of percussion flood the album. The album begins with a complicated track, “Mashaal.” The second song on the album is “Mashaal Tabla” follows in fine form, providing music that would be welcome in performances spaces and rehearsal halls.

The middle of the album features tracks for individual dancers. “Tamra Henna Part II” is a bit slower, and leads with both strings and percussion. You can almost imagine a whirling dancer, as the music plays on. Vocals enter on the second section of the song. The track has plenty of moments to strike a pose, and have the band play on. “Tahia’s Dance Part I & II” seems like more like soundtrack music that would be in a film. With more space between each new passage or musical theme, it is one of the smoother sequences on the album. “Samia’s Dance Part I & II” are dramatic tracks, with a slightly darker tone than the earlier songs.

“Tales Of The Sahara” has chord progressions that are easy to follow. It is definitely dance-worthy. “Al-Houriyah” makes for a great finale. It is a unifying song; and it does make you want to listen to more of these rhythms and sounds.

Undeniable is the attention to artistry on this album. There is an incredible mindfullness paid to the overall of the album. In terms of World Music, though, selections from other artists might be an easier listen. The album was released on July 1.