Zade's Notes - Beautiful World - CD Album

Dear Friends,

“Beautiful World” features ten pieces of which eight are original compositions that I wrote while living in Miami Beach during the past year.

This is the most ethnic-sounding recording that I have produced, as it is largely inspired by my Middle Eastern heritage. I hope it will serve to reflect positively on that part of the world.

The album features some of the region’s most talented musicians, including Jihad Assaad on Kanoon (the Arabic version of the dulcimer) Andre El hajj on oud (resembles a lute, but is smaller) Raed Bou Kamel on nay (bamboo flute), Raymond Hajj on percussion, Rami Zeidan on Bouzok (long necked instrument smaller than the guitar), and Ramzi Bou Kamel on Spanish guitar and bass.

The piece, "A World in Silence", is an Arabic interpretation of a tango-inspired theme that I sketched for the first time when I was 15.

The song, "Comes to An End," is the only vocal track, sung by a talented 19-year-old Lebanese singer, Jana. The song was made popular by Lebanese singer, Magida Al Roumi, whose dedication to fine art and peace in Lebanon has inspired me since I was a young boy. This song was written, composed, and produced by the well-known Lebanese producer and composer Elias Rahbani, whose entire family is considered a music legend in the Arab world.

The album also contains a Flamenco-inspired solo piano piece called "Your Beauty… My Madness," in which I try to adapt some Spanish guitar stylings to the piano. The title was inspired by a poem written by the late Syrian poet, Nizar Qabbani: “In my poems to you, people will discover your beauty, and my madness.”

The final track on the album is "Amman,” a piece I dedicate to Jordan, who has offered us, her people, stability and security in a part of the world plagued with conflict. Jordan’s commitment to international peace is my ultimate inspiration.

The dream of peace is alive, it’s breathing, yet its flame is often dampened by ignorance and hatred. Still I remain optimistic regardless of the obstacles and challenges.

In this day and age, it would be hard not to consider the entire world my home. We are indeed global citizens, and music for me, is my passport. It is my hope that through my music and my work, along with your help, we can continue uniting and galvanizing our passion and dream for international peace and stability so that our children can inherit a world safer than the one we received.

Together, Insha’ Allah (God willing), we can keep our world beautiful.

Zade

Amman- Jordan

12.1.2006