Jazz with a Middle Eastern Flavor
06/03/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Being a fan of world music and one-time Arabic scholar, I particularly enjoy the exotic flavor and rhythms in a couple of the songs, namely, "The Seven Principles", "Three Wise Men", and "The Sage". Since Ellington can do very little wrong, in my book, I also very much like "Melancholia". "Chappaquitic Woman" is darkly haunting for me in its evocation of swirling waters, recalling, of course, the tragedy and scandal at that river. "Divine Paradox" and its sister, "The Divine Paradox", are also aqueous, but in a more soothing way, with a sound like waves lapping in a Virginia Woolf book. All in all, this is a great CD which I can't recommend highly enough. I've had it for over a year and I listen to it with a new ear every time."