Joseph Tawadros - Chameleons of The White Shadows (2013)

Jarringly highfalutin name aside, Chameleons Of The White Shadow deserves better than the reception it will inevitably receive. The latest album by Egyptian-Australian musician Joseph Tawadros, Chameleons… will almost certainly be embraced by jazz and world music listeners alike as a masterful piece of work. Unfortunately, it will almost as certainly be ignored by everyone not immediately concerned with those genres. Which is unfortunate.
Not because jazz and world music are deserving of a broader audience, either. Simply because Chameleons Of The White Shadow is a truly excellent album, regardless of genre. Tawadros has surrounded himself with an intriguing line-up of world-class instrumentalists from an assortment of styles (including banjo legend Bela Fleck), presented a surfeit of exquisite melodies and combined the two with monumental verve and electricity.
Musicianship is a key component of the album’s appeal. Tawadros‘ compositions and playing is unbelievably kinetic. Opener White Shadow is a spectacular six-minute mess of sprinting, spiraling melodies and worldly percussive breakdowns. Even discounting musicianship, it’s a joy listening to the interplay of Tawadros‘ bizarre line-up – banjos and accordions dueling with Oud and Arabian percussion.
It’s the songcraft that sticks, though. Tawadros and players have packed their album with melodies both memorable and evocative, and their work remains compelling by virtue of its beauty. Nothing is ever boring. There’s an edge that ensures Chameleons Of The White Shadow never fades into easy listening. It’s fiery and exciting – closer to some crazy gypsy Battles record than any Kenny G cast-off.

Tracklist:

01. White Shadow
02. Gypo Blues
03. Rose in the Sky
04. Chameleon
05. Hidden Voices
06. Street in Sarajevo
07. Freo
08. Shelter
09. Variations on a Dream
10. Last Embrace
11. Cafe Riche
12. Tribal Bendir
13. Time as Place
14. Broken Promises

Personnel:

Joseph Tawadros - oud
Bela Fleck - banjo
Richard Bona - electric bass
Joey DeFrancesco - hammond organ
James Tawadros - req and bendir
with
Jean-Louis Matinier - accordion (1, 6, 14)
Roy Ayers - vibraphone (7)
Howard Johnson - tube (2)