Sunday, November 27, 2011

George Mgrdic[h]ian - East of Athens [Prestige World]



George Mgrdic[h]ian - East of Athens (Greek, Turkish, Arabic) - Prestige International INT-13079 - Blue Trident Label, Stereo [I'm unsure of the exact providence of this pressing, but I'd lean to an early second pressing, as the regular orange Prestige International label is absent, if so it's quite amazing that it was repressed!]

George Mgrdic[h]ian - Oud
Orhan Nihat Yeginsoy - Kanoon, Vocals
Petros Kalivas - Clarinet, Vocals
Onik Menakian - Dumbag
Lampros Halkiopoulos - Guitar, Vocals
Stavros Tzouanakos - Bazoukee, Vocals
Mary Vartanian - Spoons, Zeals & Vocals

Recorded - [not listed on sleeve, dates unknown?]

Supervision - Paul A Rothchild
Recording - Rudy Van Gelder
Cover Design - Don Schlitten
Cover Photo - Stylianos Gianakos

Released - 1964?

This is another genius side from the Prestige International subsidiary: East of Athens (Greek Turkish-Arabic)! His name is misspelled on the cover, but I'm pretty sure that this one of the earliest recordings of the noted Armenian-American Oud player George Mgrdichian.

Along with Ahmed Abdul Malik, he was one of the first players to introduce the Oud and Middle Eastern music to Jazz. (See Record Fiend's research on the Armenian New York Scene and Mgrdichian's subsequent side, 'The Now Sounds of the Middle East', 1969) Here, Mgrdichian plays it mostly straight as this is really a great collective effort by some superb Greek-Armenian-Turkish musicians. Evocative and compelling music.
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7 comments:

  1. Record FiendNovember 28, 2011 at 12:30 AM

    I have been in search of this album for awhile now and appreciate you making a rip available. It looks especially interesting not only because of Mgrdichian's prowess on oud but also due to the presence of singer "Sugar Mary" Vartanian, a veteran of the 8th Avenue club scene in New York City. Thanks.

    RF

    ReplyDelete
  2. RezaNovember 28, 2011 at 5:56 AM

    Thanks from me too, much appreciated

    ReplyDelete
  3. freebonesNovember 28, 2011 at 11:59 PM

    oh my god, these are amazing. i hope they never end. thanks very much.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousNovember 29, 2011 at 3:21 AM

    Thanks a lot again for these Prestige discover.
    Christophe

    ReplyDelete
  5. øשlqædaNovember 30, 2011 at 12:21 PM

    wonderful schtuff. many thanks

    ReplyDelete
  6. LPRNovember 30, 2011 at 3:31 PM

    Had no idea, Prestige issued such obscure and beautiful stuff. Many thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousApril 4, 2012 at 10:12 AM

    http://min.us/mA4nh6OgB

    ReplyDelete

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