Offerings

On Offerings, vocalist Azam Ali and percussionist Greg Ellis take one step beyond the repertoire of Indian-flavored, hymn-like songs created on their widely adored debut CD Sunyata. Again Ali radiantly sings soothing melodies of words in no language other than her own spontaneous emotion. A bit reminiscent of Madredeus's Teresa Salguiero, her tone is melancholic and soulful, but her chanting unrolls a Persian tapestry woven of her hammered dulcimer and Ellis's cadences on tabla, udu, frame drum, zils, and more. Guest artists Steve Stevens (nylon-string guitar), cellist Hans Christian, singer Omar Faruk Tekbilek, and violinist Nabil Azzam deepen the Middle Eastern hues. By the CD's end, listeners will understand why this inspired duo has named themselves the Farsi word for "vessel." --Karen Karleski