Eclipse

So beautiful... although I don't understand what he says, it relaxes and inspires me!

Nothing I can say about this CD will do it justice; it's superb. Simultaneously complex, clean, hypnotic, seductive, and reverant. El Din's voice and singing are impeccable and the instrumental work is brilliant.If you enjoy this CD, then I highly recommend the work of Catherine Braslavsky and Joseph Rowe, particularly the CD "From Jerusalem to Cordoba". [...]

Hamsa El Din is a beautiful person and it shows through his music. His passing from this plane was a great loss to all. I enjoy this CD as well as his many others. I think that if you are a lover of Nubian music, you will enjoy this offering, or if you are not familiar with the genre will find it a good one to start with!

Having followed Hamza al Din ever since seeing him back in the 60s and then on his last tour, I can say that this is one of the best cds he recorded. The gentleness, loving sound of his voice just pulls you to him. I played this twice last night and can never get enough of the beauty of his rhythms, vocal timbre and you feel his presence in every piece.Highly recommended

The grat El Din Hamza shows here how an oud player and his voice can swings like a jazz thing. Believe me or not the fact is that this wonderful music has a beat ,deep beat , that you can assimilate to the swing thing . A must for any open minded ear .

Hamza el Din is a fine artist. I listen to his music everyday. Gentle and deep. Wonderful. Perfect.

Hamza El Din is one of those amazing performers that you have been searching for your entire life. His vocal and musical abilities are sublime. At the same time, his music sounds both ancient and accessible. Hamza's music is meditational. The songs will gently paint pictures in your mind of the rolling Nubian desert scenery. Much is said of his musical abilities, but the rhythm is also a highlight as the doumbeks and handclaps add to the trance inducive sounds. His voice is very deep (like an Egyptian Johnny Cash) and his oud style expressive. Traditionally, the oud is an accompanying instrument and is almost never played by itself and usually does little or no improvisation. It is Hamza who can maintain the integrity of this music while being an innovator at the same time. For those of you who know the Grateful Dead, you will know that the band worked with Hamza beginning with their trip to Egypt in 1978. Throughout the 70s and 90s, Hamza joined the band on stage many times -and for good reason. In the new millennium, Hamza still plays with Mickey Hart's Planet Drum. Hamza has many great albums like "Songs of the Nile" (JVC, 1982) and "Lily of the Nile" (Water Lily Acoustics, 1990) but this is his best. While I've heard a few songs here played on other albums, there's something special about "Eclipse." The only explanation is producer Mickey Hart. Did you know that the oud is the root instrument where the modern electric guitar comes from? Travel back to your roots, to the collective roots of humanity and listen to something that is both ancient and timeless.

After seeing PASSION OF THE DESERT (which I saw ten times I was so mesmerized) I immediately bought this album which is the background of the movie. The song I could hear forever was "Helalisa" which reminds me of the great movie. Hamza is one of the greatest Middle Eastern musicans ever--it's the simplicity of just the oud and his sultry voice.