Reviews
Artist:Maya Youssef Album: Finding Home
Label: Seven Gates
Tracks: 9
Website: https://www.mayayoussef.com/
Maya Youssef hails from Syria but now lives in London and she is a believer in "disseminating peace through the healing power of music". She is a master of the Qanun, a 78-string plucked zither which is about a metre long and played lap-style. If 78 strings were not enough to handle she also uses a plectrum affixed to the index finger on each hand and these are used to pluck the strings and also with a slide technique similar to that of a lap steel guitar. Strings appear to be strung with a high action permitting her to bend the strings in a ways reminiscent of the Japanese Koto player. The Qanun is traditional a male preserve and Maya battled to gain respect as a player. She plays intense music rooted in the Arab classical style but with influences from Western classical music, Jazz and Latin music. She has performed around the world including at the BBC Proms and at WOMAD and has even had a London primary school class named after her. Praise indeed.
The opening track, 'Invitation to Daydream', does what you might expect and does it beautifully with help from some very sensitive piano and light touch percussion. The composition draws its influences from all over the musical spectrum. In particular there are some passages where the piano reminds me of a young Keith Jarrett. 'In My Mother's Sweet Embrace' has a more obvious Arabic feel with fluid single note lines reminiscent of good playing of an Oud. There is also some beautiful singing towards the latter part of the piece which I assume is Maya herself, in which case her vocal technique is as astounding as her playing.
Speaking of technique it is there in abundance on all instruments in 'Soul Fever' which has a throbbing bass and drum pulse with some extraordinary piano extemporisation alternating with responses from the Qanun. There is something of the feel of two gunslingers facing off against each other. This is nearly nine minutes of playing that couldn't be described as other than joyous. The same could be said of 'Jasmin Bayati' with its strong rhythm that will suit you well if you want to get your dancing shoes on. Another long piece is 'Samai of Trees' which has a more traditional Arabic feel to it along with some very nice cello lines and fine percussion. If you enjoy the music of the Trio Joubran from Palestine you will feel at home here.
Perhaps my favourite on this album is the shortest piece at under four minutes. Helped only by a little understated violin and cello 'Lullaby - A Promise of a Rainbow' begins in traditional Arabic style but after a minute or so transitions into a passage that feels like a jig intended for a Celtic harp. Absolutely delightful.
The fact that Maya Youssef is now based in London might be said to be a blessing for us and a curse for her but I'm glad to say she is due to tour in the UK from March through May and I understand some of the shows are to be streamed so try your best to get an experience of fine playing of an instrument we don't get to see very often.
Philip Thomas
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