Music: Min Gheer Kalaam (Without Words)

Buy this album! I am always looking for new dance music and this is my latest favorite. I love the classics, but appreciate the efforts of modern composers, too. Leila of Cairo's new album, "Min Gheer Kalaam" (Without Words) is a welcome addition to my music library. Unlike her previous albums, there are no entrance songs, no familiar classics (except a few beledis), and no singing by Safaa Farid (of course, since it's "Without Words.") The CD has fifteen tracks that are taxsims, drum solos, and beledis. It still has the rich, slightly raw, quality of her other albums. Is it danceable? Of course, especially the under-four-minute tracks "Beledi Awady" and "Beledi Hassan" (both will sound familiar), plus several of the drum solos. I love the taxsims, I really do, and appreciate that so many instruments were included: violin, saxophone, qanoun, nay, and accordion. However, they are all around seven minutes (or longer), so not as performance-friendly as the other tracks. I definitely recommend that all dedicated bellydance teachers and students (especially those that claim Egyptian style in their dancing) purchase this album. It's a great learning tool for studying taxsims and beledis, plus you'll enjoy dancing to it. (Plus, it's a great way to support a fellow dancer and her orchestra. We need more music like this.)

Best price I have found is at Bellydance.com. Use code ADR22 to get 10% off. (Search for "Leila Farid" to find this and a couple of her other, also excellent, albums.)

Purchase from CDBaby.com (get 10% off when you buy two or more). CD Baby also has Leila's albums, "Om Al Dunya" and "Tarab."

Buy on Amazon.com.