A Deeper Tone Of Longing - Mahsa Vahdat & Mighty Sam McClain - New Release Review

I have just received a copy of a new release, Love Duets across Civilizations:A Deeper Tone Of Longing, by Mahsa Vahdat and Mighty Sam McClain. This is an interesting recording combining Persian and American Gospel/Blues/Jazz styling and coming up with something quite different. Vahdat, native to Iran and McClain have joined forces on melodies written by Vahdat. The recording opens with A Deeper Tone Of Longing, a ballad that actually puts me in mind of a James Bond soundtrack. On When You Came the music is hauntingly beautiful and McClains voice seems to be perfect for such a task. Vahat who also sings provides a stark eastern contrast to McClains robust voice. There is a particularly clean jazz style guitar solo adding more contrast to an already warm track. Nobody begins with Vahdat singing in her native language to be followed by McClain in English and making it sound like a traditional ballad. Two Jewels to me in English sounds quite reminiscent of Stevie Wonder from the late 70's but when translated to the flip in Farsi it takes on a totally different but inviting sound. We Are Sailors begins with Vahdat and has the sound of a folk song but then McClain comes in and it takes on the characteristics of a gospel track. Very interesting juxtaposition of ideas. Refugee Of Love again starts sounding like a native folk track but when McClain starts his portion it is transformed to a blues track with gospel overtones. Very nice! Coat Of Dreams and Silk brings the two cultures the closest with strong eastern overtones throughout and a lesser shift when McClain takes over his passage. This is a very powerful recording and one that will easily find mass appeal among jazz, vocal and some blues fans.

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