Syrian musicians join Wu Mann in the Aga Khan Music Initiative London concert titled “Old and New Music from the Ends of the Silk Route”

Wu Mann in the Aga Khan Music initiative London concert titled “Old and New Music from the Ends of the Silk Route” (image credit: Evening Standard)
Wu Mann in the Aga Khan Music initiative London concert titled “Old and New Music from the Ends of the Silk Route” (image credit: Evening Standard)

Wu Man and Co, world music review: Group effort is a slow burn
Wu Man brilliantly demonstrated her technique with lyrical melodies, dramatic tremolos and percussive snaps, says Simon Broughton
SIMON BROUGHTON 11 hours ago

Wu Man is probably the greatest player of the Chinese pipa, a sculptural-looking lute that dates back 2,000 years and is frequently played by angels in ancient Buddhist frescoes. Dressed strikingly in turquoise, Wu Man played two solo pieces to open this concert. Delicate and intricate, they brilliantly demonstrated her technique with lyrical melodies, dramatic tremolos and percussive snaps.

But this concert, presented by the Aga Khan Music Initiative (AKMI), was titled “Old and New Music from the Ends of the Silk Route” and Wu Man was joined by three Syrian musicians on saxophones, qanun zither and vocals plus Andrea Piccioni on frame drums.

Most of the music wasn’t traditional, but newly composed by sax player Basel Rajoub. So Gypsy Home featured a beguiling web of plucked strings on the pipa and qanun (played by Feras Charestan) with Rajoub adding Jan Garbarek-like decorations. The soft, beautifully focused vocals of Lynn Adib brought a welcome warmth and some brilliant scatting in the final numbers. We needed more of that excitement.

Evening Standard (UK) | Music | Wu Man and Co, world music review: Group effort is a slow burn

 

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