Album Review: Amjad Ali Khan et. al. — Music for Hope
Some music based on traditional instrumentation from outside North America (that’s my wordy way of sidestepping the dread “WM” descriptor) can sound a bit, erm, foreign to American ears. Not that this is a bad thing, but it can limit the appeal for new listeners. Music for Hope has no such difficulties. The five lengthy tracks are all accessible in the extreme. The music makes no concessions to Western/pop music values, but it somehow gets its way into the listener’s ears without the “strangeness” that sometime accompanies non-Western music.
Perhaps it’s the wide net cast by project leader Amjad Ali Khan. The sarod player is joined on all tracks by Wu Man, master of the pipa, a Chinese instrument of which I only learned a few years ago (a good friend of mine is also a master of the instrument). The combination of the pipa and Indian sarods and percussion adds up to something that is wonderfully hypnotic and accessible. The music stands up to close listening, and the cross-pollination of musical traditions results in music that underscores that old saw about music being the universal language. It truly is, and Music for Hope is Exhibit A.
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4000-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he is co-teaching a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: 40 Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.