Afghanistan [CD]

Music of Kabul with Indian influence and music of Herat by two masters displaying a wonderful cohesiveness: a perfect combination of the deep sound of Ustad Rahim Khushnawaz's rubâb (with it's characteristic "skin sound", with deep resonance from the sympathetic strings) and the brilliance of Gada Mohammad's dutâr, an octave higher. The two lutenists on this album represent two contrasting facets of Afghan musicianship: Rahim Khushnawaz is the "superior" musician in terms of technical expertise, range of expression, breadth of knowledge, and ability to improvise. Gada Mohammad's playing is more intuitive, following and accompanying the rubâb; yet, he can hold his own as a soloist, as these recordings show.