Siwan (album) explained

Siwan
Type:	Album
Artist:	Jon Balke
Cover:	Siwan (album).jpg
Released:	2009
Recorded:	2007/08
Studio:	Rainbow Studio Oslo, Norway
Genre:	Jazz
Length:	52:12
Label:	ECM
Producer:	Manfred Eicher
Chronology:	Jon Balke
Prev Title:	Book of Velocities
Prev Year:	2006
Next Title:	Say and Play
Next Year:	2011

Siwan is an album by pianist Jon Balke recorded in 2007/08 and released on ECM in 2009.^[1]

Reception

The AllMusic review by Thom Jurek awarded the album 4½ stars stating "Every track here reveals something unusual, brings something hidden and alien to the fore even as it beguiles the listener with its intimacy of secret histories and knowledge. Siwan is Balke's masterpiece thus far, and will hopefully become as influential as it is groundbreaking."^[2]

Track listing

All compositions by Jon Balke with lyrics by Amina Alaoui

1. "Tuchia" - 4:56
2. "O Andalusin" - 2:25
3. "Jadwa" - 5:17
4. "Ya Safwati" - 5:17
5. "Ondas Do Mar de Vigo" - 4:30
6. "Itimad" - 6:43
7. "A La Dina Dana" - 3:27
8. "Zahori" - 4:56
9. "Ashiyin Raïqin" - 4:16
10. "Thulâthiyat" - 10:04
11. "Toda Ciencia Trascendiendo" - 12:23

Personnel

• Jon Balke – keyboards, conductor
• Amina Alaoui – vocal
• Jon Hassell – trumpet, electronics
• Kheir-Eddine M'Kachiche – violin
• Helge Andreas Norbakken – percussion
• Pedram Khavar Zamini – zarb

Barokksolistene:

• Bjarte Eike – violin, leader
• Per Buhre, Peter Spissky, Anna Ivanovna Sundin, Milos Valent – violin
• Rastko Roknic, Joel Sundin – viola
• Tom Pitt – cello
• Kate Hearne – cello, recorder
• Mattias Frostensson – double bass
• Andreas Arend – theorboe, archlute
• Hans Knut Sveen – harpsichord, clavichord

Notes and References

1. http://www.ecmrecords.com/Catalogue/ECM/2000/2042.php ECM discography
2. Jurek, T. Allmusic Review accessed November 17, 2011