Album Notes

"A master guitarist...astonishing palette of tone colours and an excellent technique." Sydney Morning Herald, Australia

Zai's recording is "by turns powerful, peaceful, passionate and musical at a level that few albums achieve" Victory Review Magazine, Washington

"Zai's playing is virtuosic, yet restrained and elegant." Herald Times, Bloomington Indiana

"Sulaiman's playing illuminates a contradictory range of contexts and musical settings-one is left with the impression of powerful forces held in balance by a clear and cool mind, which operates effectively across musical genres." Canberra Pro Musica, Australia



Oxygen Suite and Free Fall were composed and recorded as the reflection of a major shift in life perception. As one who had never done any composition before, it was surprising to the composer as it was to anybody else at what came out. That was in 1990. The flow has not yet abated, it does not feel like it ever will. This all happened at a moment when life took an unexpected turn and the realization dawned that the world rarely if at all, behaves according to the "rules". This was a shock as well as a major relief and led to the doorway to a new beginning. Every bit of music written since that moment is an expression of what was found at a deeper level than any preceding conventional view could provide. Oxygen Suite was written very quickly. After a summer of rehearsal it was recorded in one very intense day. Responses to this recording indicate the listener can actually feel the energy behind this. The caliber of artists supporting this project is clearly evident in listening. Free Fall came about in the same way. A burst of writing, brief and intense rehearsing, then recording. It is almost as though these recordings brought themselves about and that the composer and players just came along for the experience. And... what an experience!!!
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