Ibrahim Maalouf, First Noel Review

Ibrahim Maalouf is a trumpeter, composer, arranger, and educator from Beirut that now resides in France. Maalouf is the son of trumpeter Nasime Maalouf and pianist Nada Maalouf, nephew of the writer Amine Maalouf and grandson of journalist, poet, and musicologist Rushdi Maalouf. He is currently the only trumpet player in the world to play Arabic music with the trumpet in quarter tones, which his father invented in the 1960s. His skills as a musician have allowed him to perform with internationally famous singers and musicians, such as Amadou & Mariam, Matthieu Chedid, Lhasa de Sela, Angel Parra, Jeanne Cherhal, Arthur H, Marcel Khalifé and toured in America and Europe performing in the most prestigious venues. He is featured on recordings by Sting, Vanessa Paradis, Vincent Delerm, and others. In addition, Maalouf created his own label: Mis’ter Productions, on which he has released multiple albums. Maalouf is now releasing his Christmas album called First Noel.

Bottom Line:  First Noel is a Christmas album that offers twenty-five classics and three new compositions Maalouf composed especially for his son’s first Christmas, and one in honor of his grandma Odette’s last Christmas. The Christmas memories he has are full of beautiful moments, so he insisted on recording this album, staying true to the magic of these instants. Maalouf is joined by long-time collaborators: François Delporte (guitar), Frank Woeste (piano) and Sofi Jeannin (choirmaster). Jeannin selected eight singers with celestial, sublime voices to round out the ensemble. Maalouf says, “We recorded in two magical places: the studio of my friend Armand Amar – where I had the chance to work on my first albums (Babel Studios in Montreuil) – and the Church of Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre. The latter being the most ancient church in Paris – only a few meters away from the Notre-Dame Cathedral – has always been at the center of significant moments in our family history in France.” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” opens the album with Maalouf’s deeply toned trumpet playing the melody with clarity as the ensemble supports him through the form. The arrangement builds with the choir, adding a rich texture with the guitar and piano. Maalouf’s phrasing and embellishments of the melody are excellent as well. Though known to fans as a beacon of combining today’s styles with a sense of contemporary jazz, here Maalouf indulges his pop/classical impulses. “Holly Jolly Christmas” is a fine example of Maalouf focusing on the core of his musical and thematic ideologies to create a classic bossa nova-themed arrangement of style and grace. By highlighting the melodic element of his sound, Maalouf draws us closer to the ecstatic love meant to be shared during the Holidays, which can be heard and felt in “O Holy Night.” Overall, First Noel is a cohesive record that allows Maalouf to express his wide-ranging influences: a seamless mix of classical, pop, jazz, world, and modern classical minimalism. These styles cohere to create an album of inner peace. The guitar and piano playing is excellent, and the choir sings beautifully as Maalouf’s trumpet will entice you with his tone and playing. That’s the short of it!

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