Record Details

Idsongs: ballad-to-the-east

Public: False

Song Title: Ballad to the East

Artist: Sahib Shihab

Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/master/334667-Sahib-Shihab-Jazz-Sahib

Image (Url): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1C2dTBwJsc5qbfkDpIDuMQtToz8LlDKen/view?usp=drivesdk

Year Released: 1957

Perplexity: Sahib Shihab's "Ballad to the East" (1957) reflects the growing interest in Middle Eastern musical influences among jazz musicians of the 1950s. Shihab, born Edmund Gregory, converted to Islam in 1947, and his musical explorations often mirrored his spiritual journey. This composition blends jazz harmonies with modal scales and rhythmic patterns inspired by Middle Eastern music. The title suggests a musical homage to the East, possibly drawing on Shihab's personal connection to Islamic culture. As a saxophonist and flutist, Shihab may have incorporated techniques that evoke the sound of traditional Middle Eastern wind instruments like the ney or mizmar. The "Ballad" aspect implies a lyrical, possibly melancholic piece, perhaps reflecting on the cultural richness of the Middle East or the artist's own spiritual reflections. This work represents an early example of the fusion between jazz and Middle Eastern music, predating the more widespread world music explorations of the 1960s and beyond. Through this composition, Shihab contributes to the broader dialogue between Western jazz and Eastern musical traditions, reflecting the complex cultural interactions that have long characterized the Middle East's relationship with the West.

Youtube: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=295591011079779

Jonnie'S Notes: https://www.allmusic.com/artist/sahib-shihab-mn0000578521/biography https://www.jazzdisco.org/sahib-shihab/discography/ https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/shihab-sahib-1925-1989 https://www.britannica.com/art/jazz

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