Kitsch? Well yes, it is. But apart from being a lot of fun, there's a lot to be learned from this CD. A compilation of what
George Abdo
and his men did, ostensibly for the
belly dancing
circuit, although more popular among immigrants from around the Mediterranean and Middle East, it's an object lesson in how a new land changes music. They adapted it to America, making it decidedly more
loungy
(just listen to
Abdo
's singing, strongly influenced by everyone from
Frank Sinatra
to
Perry Como
), and slowly removing the more ethnic elements, like those awkward quarter-tones in the melody, to achieve a synthesis that was, ultimately, completely American -- ready for the new world, hearkening back over its shoulder at the old. The patina of tradition was there, but really, this was American music as much as
jazz
or
rock & roll
. And that's quite an achievement. Whether tracks like
"Ya Gameel"
or the terribly cheesy
"Sahirrnee"
are classics remains to be seen. But, on the evidence of this,
really did do something -- and how many places will you hear
cocktail
piano and Latin congas ready to wiggle behind a veil? ~ Chris Nickson