Album Notes

So goes the legend - Dog, man's best friend, risked his life to pull man out of the abyss. But man alas responds to the dog with commands and an authoritative attitude. The dog covers his ears - the dog done gone deaf.
Created with this in his mindseye, Halim El-Dabh weaves a synthesis of resonances which evoke down to earth sounds mixed with the mystical and magical realms. He writes for an extended range in all the instruments, stemming from a desire to transcend limits and to push beyond norms. He holds onto traditional elements and stays the authentic while layering his tonal explorations in pursuit of new dimensions of sounds. Truly avant-garde and eclectic.
Master musicians Thierry Amar - string bass, Jean Derome - baritone sax, bass flute
Halim El-Dabh - piano, vocal, Malcolm Goldstein - violin, Sam Shalabi - oud, Ziya Tabassian - percussion form The Barking Dog Sextext for this world premiere at Suoni Per Poplo in Montreal.

A note from Halim El-Dabh:

I was very fortunate to gather some of Montreal's best musicians to form my group The Barking Dog Sextet to manifest my music composition The Dog Done Gone Deaf for the Suoni Per Il Popolo Festival in Montreal, Quebec in June 2007.
The musicians, Thierry Amar, Jean Derome, Malcolm Goldstein, Sam Shalabi and Ziya Tabassian are all well known for their innovations and openness to explore new music. They studied the music score of my composition to understand the very core of its deep meanings. All of them made me feel as one of them. I was very comfortable to interact with the group as composer, conductor and performer.
I found myself in the midst of the musicians creative compassion which reached out for the audience, resonating without limitation.
Thierry Amar with the mystery of his string bass is always ready to anchor the group together. Jean Derome breaks the sound barriers with the amazing melodies that wail from his baritone sax, emotionally weaving textures of his flute and bass flute with magical floating tones. Malcolm Goldstein, extraordinary violinist who can speak all musical languages with the extended sounds he creates. Sam Shalabi explores the mystery of his oud that brings refreshing sounds like drops of pure rain water. Zia Tabassian evokes thunder and storm as well as delicate crystal sounds with drum and percussion. Finally myself the composer, reaches out beyond the limits of earth and sky, courting the keys of the piano while singing multi overtones.

Halim El-Dabh
www.halimeldabh.com