Basya Schechter Queens Dominion CD

This is the fourth album by Basya Schechter, produced by Albert Leusink. Though members of Pharaoh's Daughter are featured as guests on this record, the focus of the music is a collaboration with Santur player, Alan Kushan who Basya met on a cross country trip transporting friend and Virtual Reality specialist Jaron Lanier and his 1,000 exotic instruments in a Penske truck to Berkeley from Tribeca in the fall of 2002. The music had been composed over the past 5 years, both indpendently, and through many late night jam sessions in Williamsburgh with Jarrod Cagwin who is the percussionist on this album, and is the drummer for Rabih Abu Khalil. The composing would start at around 1a.m. and by 4a.m. delirious and full of new songs in all kinds of meteres would be recorded as the new outgoing message on her answering machine. This went on for 3 months. When talking to Kushan riding 2a.m. through Arkansas, and he mentioned his instrument, a lightbulb went off, and she knew he had the right sound to complete the project. They would be recording shortly. Within the year, they spent 2 months every morning going over the compositions and opening up different sections to improvisation. Collectively, Basya, Jarrod, and Alan, have lived and traveled through Iran, India, Turkey, Morrocco, Kurdistan, Mali, Kazakstan, Russia, Israel, Egypt, and other countries in the Far and Middle East. The music is at reminiscent of all these places and a totally new exploration.

Personnel: Basya Schechter (oud, percussion); Alan Kushan (vocals, santur); Chiara Civello (vocals); Meg Okura (violin); Noah Hoffeld (cello); Jason Lindner (melodica); Daphna Mor (recorder); Albert Leusink (trumpet); Shanir Ezra Blumenkranz (double bass); Jarrod Cagwin (percussion).
Queen's Dominion is the solo debut from Pharaoh's Daughter leader Basya Schechter. Almost entirely instrumental, this album is also somewhat more stripped down instrumentally than that band, with a core group of oud, santur, violin and percussion with guests on some tracks. The sound of this ensemble is a delight. The pairing of oud and santur is an exquisite combination and the more sustained tones of the violin are a perfect complement. The playing is excellent. This is the type of album where there are no real highlights as each piece is beautiful and sublime. Anyone interested in the music of the Middle East should seek this out. Recommended. ~ Sean Westergaard