Schooled by his artistic Persian parents in their folk music while in exile from Iran, Maneli Jamal is a guitarist who brings an exciting dimension to the acoustic genre. He wrote, recorded, produced and did the artwork and layout for this album, T he Ziur Movement , a must-hear for musician and music lover alike.
Ornate Persian Carpet Designs
On the day that his family was finally granted Canadian citizenship, he wrote the opening track on the album, ' Most Glorious Day ', a good introduction to the celebration of the acoustic guitar that this album presents.
Jamal's approach to the guitar is refreshing, to say the least. He uses it as not one, but many different instruments. This is clearly audible in his technical variation: zither-like air taps and right hand slaps, crossover glissandos and double-handed taps flow seamlessly with dazzling tremolo picking and arpeggios, as heard on ' Mov. II - Vasat. His swirling arpeggios are ornate Persian carpet designs on a sturdy weave of rhythmic playing and percussion.
Percussion and Understated Melody
His use of the percussive possibilities of the guitar is very tabla-like in character. It is done without consciously trying to draw attention; it really is part of the music, be it the booming body beats of 'Most Glorious Day' and 'Mov. IV - Finale' or the gentle string slaps during Mov. III - Ziur, it is used to drive the song forwards and keep interest.
His Persian folk influence can also clearly be heard on '2 a.m.', a short dramatic piece with very oriental sitar-like bends and rapid-fire minor riffs. Uncannily, one can almost hear the drone strings of a sitar throughout this haunting piece.
He makes good use of harmonics to suggest notes, rather than state the melody, a technique which keeps the ear actively engaged and interested, as first noticed in 'Mov. I - Norym'. On the laid-back 'Morning in Adanac' this technique is used beautifully over a basic rhythm and bassline.
In other places, like 'Southern Magnolia', the harmonics give finger cymbal-like highlights to this gentle piece. The most ear-catching use of hamonics, however, is on 'Mov. IV - Finale' a piece which is carried forward by dazzling slurs and pizzicato bass, the final harmonic making the movement piece end on a sharp sweet high.
Variation in Technique and Format
The clarity of execution and recording of this album pays homage to the Taylor steel string acoustic guitar. Even the unintended fret noises can be clearly heard, lending authenticity through imperfection, in the same way that a Persian carpet weaver would purposefully leave a flaw in his work, as "only Allah is perfect". Jamal's technique, however, is precise and keeps the listener engaged through variation.
Refreshingly, Jamal steers clear of conventional format of verse/chorus/bridge progression - a deviation which some might find irritating, but others will find adventurous. It is music arranged honestly and simply, played as it is felt, rather than forced into a mould for the sake of the listener's safety and security.
Highlights of the album
- 'Most Glorious Day' for its joyful vitality and street festive feel.
- '2 a.m.' for the way that east and west meet in the acoustic guitar and for its haunting, almost frightening beauty.
- The whole movement piece - from I to IV, especially for its classical almost Villa-Lobos feel and energy. Mmm... come to think of it, no. IV is the best here: very ornate, very flashy, but well-controlled.
- 'Cold Arrival' and 'Lucid Drawl' are good synopses of both the highs and the lows of the album: it has Jamal's typical lithe glissandos and lightning quick intricate tapping, but the technical brilliance is in danger of turning into fireworks which can damage the flow of the music. Jamal is sure, however, to mature as a guitarist and tame the vital youthful macho bluster into superbly crafted works of art.
Introspection and Adventure
The Ziur Movement is a collection of guitar pieces which strike a sweet balance between introspection and adventure through elegant mastery and effortless technique. It is a beautifully crafted, if sometimes slightly raw, piece of work. The genre of acoustic guitar music is all the richer for the exciting input of this talented young guitarist, whose career will be followed with interest.
Marius Nel - Passionate writer, bewildered human being, amazed at human capacity for creation and destruction.
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