A Bridge Over the Mediterranean
The Chehade Brothers
Elef
Born in Jerusalem but now living and working in Beirut, Rami and Farid Chehade work with an ensemble of 19 musicians to create a sound that’s grounded in the Middle East, but which reaches out across the Mediterranean. You can hear strains of flamenco and tarantella in their sound, while the rippling bouzouki offers a connection to Greece and even the Balkans, thanks to Michel Elefteriades. Lead singer Rami is not only blessed with a wonderfully lyrical voice that inhabits the songs, both fast and slow, but he’s also a gifted ‘ud player, coaxing subtle textures and fills from his strings for impressive and affecting results.
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