Returning to east-west fusion
In honor of the two major events of the day
One, the peace accord between Israel and UAE
And two, Dame willing Portland into the playoffs
Too bad they’d need to make the conference finals for a showdown with PG, Pat Bev, and the Clip Joint
Al-Andalus Ensemble is a wife-husband duo from Rip City
Julia Banzi is a flamenco guitarist who teaches at Reed and Lewis & Clark
She’s got a PhD in ethnomusicology from UC-Santa Barbara
The husband, Tarik Banzi, was born in Morocco, and lived in Spain in the 80s
Where he introduced the darbuka (a clay drum) into contemporary Flamenco circles
He also plays oud and ney, a middle-eastern flute
The Al Andalus Ensemble is so-called after the original moorish name for the region
From the original muslim conquest of the area in the 8th century, through the period of the Reconquista, until the end of the War of Granada and christian rule, it was a hub of science, learning, and notably, religious freedom
The era of cosmopolitan tolerance and cultural interchange ended, and the Jews were of course expelled in 1492
The ensemble harkens back to that pre-Inquisition time before hardened orthodoxy, forced conversion (or death), and dominant Christianity
Today’s dose finds the duo playing live in Kuala Lampur
Frequent Ensemble contributor Charlie Bisharat is on violin
Tarik on oud
Emily Miles on vocals
I guess nowadays the most famous version of Poor Wayfaring Stranger is by Johnny Cash, during his late career revival
It’s sometimes referred to as the Libby Prison Hymn, since it was inscribed in a Confederate prison by a Union soldier, dedicated to an injured comrade-in-arms
But its roots definitely stretch back before the Civil War
As far as I know, its origin is still disputed (negro spiritual, scottish folk, even possible indigenous roots)
My favorite version is by the Father of Bluegrass himself, Big Mon, Bill Monroe
Supposedly, it was his favorite tune (though he’s most associated with Blue Moon of Kentucky to laymen like me)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMrBCJObQOk
We shall all surely go home, one way or the other
