As Much as It Takes

This is the second album in 2023 released by Palestinian composer and piano virtuoso Faraj Suleiman. Yet, whereas Upright Biano was a collaboration with lyricist Majd Kayyal focusing on songs, As Much as It Takes is an ambitious, wholly instrumental record. It's aim is to tell Suleiman's story from Al-Ram to Paris, where he spent lockdown. The album walks between Western and Middle Eastern sounds, often venturing between the traditional musical structures that have been part of Suleiman's repertoire since he came to prominence at Montreux Jazz Festival in 2018. An example of this is on the opening track, ‘Single Mother’, which veers off into math rock in terms of its aggression and complicated time signatures, while retaining its jazz credentials. ‘Oriental Melody’ is a lovely, mellow, piano-led number complete with sax, double bass and brushed drums. It showcases Suleiman's talents as a technically brilliant pianist. Final track ‘Return’ was composed in Haifa once Suleiman returned after lockdown. As with Suleiman's journey, As Much As It Takes represents a constant back-and-forth between Europe and the Middle East.