Here's the scoop...
Mustapha Skandrani – a luminary of Algerian music – was able to transcend the borders of musical cultures to create a distinctive fusion of Arabo-Andalusian and European styles. His 1965 solo album Stikhbars recorded in Paris for Pathé-Marconi (reissued as Istikhbars and Improvisations by the Japanese label EM Records in 2017), presents a trans-Mediterranean crossover based on traditional Algerian vocal pieces known as Istikhbars. These istikhbars have roots in the Islamic Arabo-Andalusian culture that flourished in Spain but the idea of playing them on such a quintessentially European instrument as the piano was met with derision by some purists. Skandrani's powerful musical vision, however, perceives the European element involved in Arabo-Andalusian musical culture, a world of exchange and co-existence, and his decision to play this music on the piano reminds us of this European influence.
Skandrani's modus operandi on this release is to present each istikhbar, modal in nature, then to play an improvisation based on the istikhbar and it's attendant mode. This A/B alternation continues throughout. Skandrani's playing on this album may remind the listener of a modal Goldberg Variations, Bach and Glenn Gould transplanted to Andalucia. Other ears will hear the Arabic/Maghreb elements more strongly. Skandrani's precise touch and clear, symmetrical rhythmic sense links both worlds, assuring us that the Mediterranean is not a barrier, but a unifier, and that the differences between the cultures are not so vast. This is an admirable achievement, resulting in beautiful music of a rare charm.
Mustapha Skandrani was born in Algiers in 1920. He mastered a number of instruments at an early age, and his musical prowess led him to work with the great singers and ensembles of his day, in live performances, recordings, and radio broadcasts. Later in his life, he devoted much energy to education right up until his passing in 2005.
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