Offerings

by Jim Brenholts Vas is Greg Ellis and Azam Ali. Offerings is their second CD and in many ways it is stronger than their first. They use no MIDI or sequencing in the creation of this Middle Eastern-flavored soundscape. Ellis' percussion carries the sound while Ali's Farsi vocals create vast atmospheres. The music flows directly at and around deep listeners. Ellis has arranged and mixed the sounds perfectly -- there are no gaps or missing pieces. The ethnic acoustics have a full and lush sound. Fans of Sheila Chandra, Natacha Atlas, Rasa, and Loreena McKennitt will appreciate this disc. It is essential world music. Produced by Azam Ali and Greg Ellis. Recorded at Atman Studios, Los Angeles, March-June 1998. Engineered by Greg Ellis. Additional engineering by Azam Ali. Mixed by Hans Christian Reumschuessel at Allemande Music, Fairfax, CA, June-July 1998. Mastered by Paul Stubblebine at Paul's Gourmet Mastering, San Francisco. No sequences, loops, or samplers were used in recording this album. Azam Ali: voice, hammered dulcimer, psaltery, tanpura, frame drum. Greg Ellis: udu, tabla, dumbek, nagara, riqq, frame drum, bells, gongs, zils, tombak, shakers, voice. With Guest Musicians: Omar Faruk Tekbilek: ney, zurna, voice on Wajad. Nabil Azzam: Arabic violin. Steve Stevens: nylon-string guitar. Hans Christians: cello, sarangi, nykelharpa.