INANA, Released November 2011
More fully realized than many similar ethnic fusions, ElSaffar’s incorporation of maqam’s microtones, flexible pitches and meter-less bar lines yields a highly personalized language that reaches well beyond the confines of Western pedagogy for inspiration…Gracefully poised between two worlds, Inana builds upon ElSaffar’s previous accomplishments, establishing an impressive precedent for the creative possibilities of a new global jazz aesthetic.”
- Troy Collins, All About Jazz (full article)
The music deftly combines jazz and Middle Eastern music in a unique way, finding common ground in improvisation… ElSaffar’s studies in both jazz and ethnic music have placed him in good stead to carve out a unique place in the current improvised music. His music and musicial concept is clearly evolving, and this is a very exciting development.”
- Tim Niland, Jazz and Blues (full article)
Amir ElSaffar is uniquely poised to reconcile jazz and Arabic music without doing either harm…ElSaffar’s music [is] the result of engagement across the board, presented with clarity and eloquence.”
- The Wire
Even before you’re impressed with the innovative nature of this album you’ll be struck by the seamlessness with which ElSaffar combines two separate musical traditions while remaining true to the highest aesthetic dictates of each. These pieces are elegant, meditative, refined, and musically adventurous.”
- Wanda Waterman, The Voice Magazine (full article)
ElSaffar has been esteemed for a new methodology towards the much-maligned world music genre….[he]is a jazz musician first, introducing his ethnicity (Iraqi) as an integrated part of his aesthetic.”
- The New York City Jazz Record
Other Press
ElSaffar’s melismatic trumpet lines conveyed tremendous lyric beauty, his phrases bending and twisting in ways that Western ears are not accustomed to hearing…[Danilo] Perez, [David] Sanchez, [Amir] ElSaffar and [Rudresh] Mahanthappa rank among the most promising figures in jazz today, each redefining the music with cultural influences from around the world.”
- Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune (full article) review of concert with Danilo Perez
Music doesn’t get much more intimate than this. The hypnotic quality of Amir’s singing draws you in. When the song moves on, the rhythm kicks like a bracing splash of cold water. The last such episode inevitably ratchets up the speed and volume just a bit, to big effect.”
- Third Coast Digest (review of Present Music concert featuring Safaafir)
Safaafir […] presented a traditional maqam, lengthy and mesmerizing, its vocal line a melisma-filled ramble through poetic reflection and exuberant pleading. Amir ElSaffar sang as expertly as he played. This trio is an amazing combination of musicians.”
- Rick Walters, Full Article
Inana Reviews
Radif Suite reviews
Two Rivers reviews
Safaafir reviews