Omar Faruk Tekbilek – Crescent Moon

Crescent Moon is a bewitching blend of Western and Near Eastern sounds. Don’t be misled by the presence of synthesizer wizard Steve Roach, or keyboardist/guitarist Brian Keane, or the guest appearance by the rollicking Bulgarian saxophonist Yuri Yunakov—this is an album with clear and deep roots in the ancient legacy of Turkey and Arabian music. In fact, six of the ten tracks are Faruk’s arrangements of traditional folk and classical songs from the Arab, Turkish, and Armenian traditions. Tekbilek’s newest project also draws on the sounds of Azerbaijani folksong, Persian mysticism, and classical Arabian belly dancing. He even pays tribute, on the song Yalel, to the famed Egyptian singer Omm Kulthum. (Tekbilek himself is half Egyptian.) Working with many of the same musicians who have made such distinctive contributions to Tekbilek’s earlier albums, he creates a kind of global music—a music that acknowledges Greek, Indian, and of course Turkish music, and attempts to find a common ground between all of these. Perhaps his greatest achievement on Crescent Moon is that the album is more than the sum of its parts: it consistently evokes the ecstatic trance of the Sufi dervishes, the biting winds of the desert at night, the rich and exotic scents of an Oriental market, and yet it does so without clearly staying in any one musical tradition. Much of Crescent Moon is deeply personal. Yunnus is a medley of four Sufi tunes, and reflects his longtime practice of this mystical branch of Islam. Adanali is the name both of a folksong and of the town where Tekbilek was born. The album itself is released as Tekbilek marks his 47th birthday—and he reports that both the numbers 4 and 7 have had recurring significance throughout his life. (He has 7 brothers; he was fourth in line; the street address of the house he grew up in was 47; and Crescent Moon is the fourth album he has made with longtime colleagues Arto Tuncboyaciyan, Ara Dinkjian, and Hasan Isikkut.) Ironically, this most personal recording is also easily accessible to Western listeners. By following his own spiritual impulses, and by ignoring geographic and cultural boundaries, Tekbilek has forged a pan–Middle Eastern music. Crescent Moon is at once contemplative and exciting, full of lively rhythms and lovely melodies—timeless, and yet very much of our time.

Omar Faruk Tekbilek – Crescent Moon CD Review by John Williams
Omar Faruk Tekbilek is a Turkish born, American based virtuoso of music with a Middle Eastern sound combined with Western infl uences. It is truly World music. Omar is World renowned and has made many recordings, T.V. and fi lm scores, and sacred music over the years. He has toured the World extensively. The CD was recorded in 1998. The title track begins with a haunting fl ute solo reminiscent of Riley Lee. A pounding percussion joins in and then the track lifts to a frantic pace. You can close your eyes and picture yourself at a Turkish feast with dancers swirling around you. This is the power of Omar Faruk Tekbilek. He can transport you to other lands and other cultures in an instant. As a young musician, Omar learnt some music from the time he spent with the Mevlevi Dervishes, the ancient Sufi order from Turkey. He also gathered infl uences from Turkish, Arabesque and Western sources during his sojourn in Istanbul. I enjoyed ‘Salute to the Sun’ with its haunting vocal. ‘Tamzara’ was another track I enjoyed. ‘Baglama Delight’ was another haunting track. If you like percussion, then ‘Hijaz Raks’ will delight you. I found it reminiscent of some of the Beatles work after their stay with the Maharishi. Omar composed most of the tracks on the CD and is accompanied by nine other master players who create a wonderful sound. I found the CD intriguing and quite different to my usual musical tastes. I did enjoy it. This CD may not be to everyone’s taste, but if you have even the remotest interest in music from other cultures, you will enjoy this CD.