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Arabic Pop, Oriental Funk, Jazz Fusion and Experimental Synth: the birth of the modern Lebanese musical adventure, presented as a survey spanning the high points of two decades of releases on the groundbreaking Voix De L’Orient label.
Those profiled include Egyptian guitarist Omar Khorshid, maverick producer/arranger/composer Elias Rahbani, mysterious talents like Nicolas Dick and Robert Maalouf and the father of the label’s founder, Abdallah Chahine, a pianist of immense talent.
As told in detailed liner notes by DJ, music researcher and legacy-keeper Ernesto Chahoud and Natalie Shooter, this period of Lebanese music formed the soundtrack to the city of Beirut during its multiple transformations, from its 1950s to 1960s heyday as ‘the Switzerland of the Orient’ through to the mid 1970s and 1980s, when it soundtracked the tragic days of the Lebanese Civil War.
Tracklist:
1. Abdallah Chahine – Nakreese – Taqsim: Hawwil Ya Ghannam
2. Munir Bachir – Shurud
3. Tony Frangier & Setrak Sarkissian – Azef El-leyl
4. Robert Maalouf – Anna W Leil
5. Nicholas Dick – Un Voix Qui M’Apelle
6. Jacques Kodjian – Bent El-Shalabiya
7. Elias Rahbani – Dance of Maria
8. Adib Abou Antoun – Addayer
9. Georgette Sayegh – Yay Yay Ya Nassini
10. Mohamed “Mike” Hegazi & His Golden Guitar – Nouni
11. Emaad Sayyah – Mazoufat Nagham
12. Omar Kourshid – Arrissassa
Credits:
This anthology produced by Ernesto Chahoud, Natalie Shooter and Eothen Alapatt.
Licensed by the late Abdallah Chahine and his family’s label, Voix De L’Orient.
Liner notes by Ernesto Chahoud.
Production coordination & vinyl transfers by Tanner McCrary.
Restoration and remastering by Jason Bitner.
Art direction by Errol Richardson.
LP. 2025. NA5278.