Tamam Morning

Belgian saxophonist Thys has assembled a beautifully balanced quintet for an uplifting fusion of European jazz and Middle-Eastern modes. The instrumentation of saxophone, cello, oud, percussion and piano provides a rewarding canvas of timbres.

Featured artist Ihab Radwan uses his oud to occupy the lower register in the absence of a bass. Each strike of Radwan's strings has a measured muscularity. On ‘Cross My Border’ Radwan and cellist Annemie Osborne trade bass duties as each supplies a tasteful solo. ‘Istanbul Kids – Part 2 – Tarlabasi’, named for the less-than-salubrious Istanbul neighbourhood, sounds both sinister and exuberant. Percussionist Zé Luis Nascimento drives the odd-time groove to a dervish-whirling intensity as Thys unleashes an energetic soprano sax solo. Some of the most absorbing offerings on the album come when Thys switches to bass clarinet, which lends cuts like ‘Giacomo Casanova’ a furtive flavour. This is music with a life force. It would surely be even better live. The tour supporting the album was postponed, but Tamam Morning allows us to cross borders even while locked down.