Sevda Alekberzade - Getme, getme, gel video

The small Transcaucasian republic of Azerbaijan is best known for its classical mugham tradition the local equivalent of neighbouring Iran's dastgah, or the Turkish makam. Sevda Alekperzaheh isn't the first to successfully fuse this with a jazz sensibility, but the bulk of this album does the same with the region's folk songs, also straying into blues, soul and even funk stylings, which don't always work so well. Even so, it's a bold, varied and adventurous set with plenty of fine musicianship. 'Sevda' is a Turkish word meaning 'passion' or 'love' also a moniker for the 'Bosnian blues' or sevdalinka and you could say she's well named. Alekperzaheh is a versatile and passionate singer with a fine voice. She once took lessons from Azerbaijan's most famous singer, Alim Qasimov, and not only includes one song from his repertoire (Getme-Getme) but also employs a musician associated with him Malik Mansurov on tar (lute) and oud. Well, they are on the same label The agreeably varied settings range from spare nagara (hand drum) and saz (another type of lute) to lush, colourful arrangements with piano, double bass, horns, balaban and percussion. Of the two instrumentals, the more accessible is Sari Gelin, with mournful balaban and increasingly driving nagara; the shrill, bagpipe-like sound of the zurna (shawm) on Gobustan is harder to warm to. Ele Deme is a fine opener, with Sevda progressing from a husky murmur to quite strident tones and hints of soul pyrotechnics before ...