Marcel Khalife is a Lebanese oud player who spent the formative years of his career playing in bomb-damaged venues, and who once had his tapes confiscated by the Israeli army. Though much of his past music included the work of Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish, Taqasim, his new three-part work, is an instrumental tribute to the poet. "Part One" is an expansive reimagining of the oud's role in Arabic music, casting it in a loosely improvisational, jazz-like context. Khalife gets the most out of the lute-like instrument's lower register, intertwining it with Peter Herbert's upright bass on a series of memorable themes. The modal harmony and minimal percussion gives it an ancient, time-worn feel, as though this music has criss-crossed the cradle of civilization for centuries.

MP3: Marcel Khalife: Taqasim, Part One (clip)