Eliyahu & The Qadim Ensemble: Eastern Wind  By: Greg Gargiulo
For those thirsty for a truly different cup of tea and willing
enough to let senses wander to far reaches, steep up a cup of
Eliyahu & The Qadim Ensemble's Eastern Wind (Embarka Records).
Rooted deep underground from centuries of musical tradition
passed down like sacred heirlooms through generations, the music
produced by this collective is as natural as the flora and fauna
native to the Middles Eastern region it comes from.  Bringing
together a broad expanse of indigenous instruments - many of
which are unidentifiable to the average layperson's ear -
Eliyahu and the Qadim (pronounced ka-deem) Ensemble stitch
together an offering of traditional and modern pieces that have
traces to many divergent spots throughout the Middle East,
including Arabia, Armenia, Israel, Morocco, Turkey, Egypt and
Yemen. The featured musicians, hailing from both Jewish and
Arabic faiths, combine their best efforts for the cause of
musical and societal harmony, and thoug