The Queen of World Music Goes Acoustic

Natacha Atlas

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Ana Hina (World Village, 2008)

Natacha Atlas is one of the most charismatic and creative artists in the world music scene. With every new recording she has managed to stay fresh and appealing. Atlas' new CD,  Ana Hina takes her in a new direction. Left behind are the flirtings with R&B and electronica. Instead, she has turned her attention to acoustic Arabic music. 

For this project, Natacha Atlas called British musical director and arranger Harvey Brough. the cast of international musicians is impressive. The participants in the album include Clara Sanabras (Spain) oud and voice; Natacha’s cousin Aly el Minyawi (London via Cairo ) percussion; Andy Hamill (Scotland) double bass; Gamil Awad (a star in Egypt who played on some of this repertoire the first time around) on accordion, soloing in the Nubian style.

The material in Ana Hina includes new versions of songs by popular Egyptian and Western artists (Fairuz and the Rahbani Brothers, Abdel Halim Hafez, and Nine Simone) as well as original pieces by Atlas and her musicians.

This another musical gem by one of world music's finest artists.

Two American concerts are scheduled for November:

• Nov. 6 San Francisco Jazz Festival – Herbst Theatre, San Francisco
• Nov. 9 The El Rey – Los Angeles

Buy the CD or download:

• In North America: Ana Hina
• In Europe: Natacha Atlas