Sazi - 1-30-2010 at 09:29 PM
My band Shanasheel, Oud, djoza, bendir/darbuka.
Three tunes recorded live from our first Bemac concert.
http://www.mediafire.com/Sazi
These are large 16bit 44.1KHz wav files, if you have a slow connection you could try these smaller wmv youtube links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Doynkyu8vz0 ( Che Mali Wali)
Samai Nahawand (Munir Bashir's)... I was a little nervous...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_fISzKRyWw
Third one, Dizzani. Not much on my part but some nice Joza from Nawres
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwCFPjJF4j4
I'm playing my Laith Fouad Jihad oud, (pictures on the clip) tuned down a semi-tone, through a Rode M3 mic.
The recording was done with a Zoom H4n on a line out from the desk.
I hope to get the video footage soon...
Sazi - 2-2-2010 at 12:40 AM
81 views yet no comment?...nobody likes it... or hates it...?
I'm a just learning westerner, self-taught anyway, no oud teachers in my neck of the woods, but Nawres the joza player is Iraqi, he makes me work
hard! Maybe one day I might sound authentic! 
Marcus - 2-2-2010 at 01:15 AM
Hi Sazi 
you`re right!! Artists ( as you are ) need feedback.Shame on me,listen to it 3 times before and being to lazy to post something
Very well done
I like the samai nahawand most. You where nervous? It must
be like the shivering of your hands helped you to play the nice tremolos
)
What was the reason to tune the oud down a semitone? Was the rest of the band tuned down, and if, why?
I played the bass in a 80`s rockband (once upon a time:rolleyes )
and we tuned a semitone down to make the sound fat and the choir-singing easier. I never tried it on the oud.
Do you play from notesheets or is it all in your head? I`m very bad in reading notes-no way to read and play at once-and allways wonder how
westerner`s can store long tunes in their heads.
I try to cut songs in a few pieces ,learn each one single, and put them together again.It works, but its not really funny to listen to shredded
tunes.
I hope you let us hear more,or post a video from your next gig.
All the best an greet`s from snowy germany,
Marcus
Sazi - 2-2-2010 at 01:28 AM
Hi Marcus, thanks, yes we're a sensitive bunch us Art-icians glad you liked the
samai! it's my favourite too.
I had to tune down because the strings were just too tight, too much downforce on the soundboard. I've got thinner strings now and am back to concert
pitch.
I'm afraid I can't read music notes either, I learn the same way you do, first though, I just try to play along with the whole piece, to get the
feel/flow, then I work on the different sections... it mostly works ok for me.
G'day from hot sticky Australia
mrkmni - 2-2-2010 at 01:10 PM
Sazi,
I have to say you are professional...
I liked the samaii and che mali wali...
nice presentation
Sazi - 2-2-2010 at 06:47 PM
Wow! Thanks, but I think professionals get more work and get paid more than I do
I just bluff my way through.
Having a professional oud helps because like all good instruments if you play badly it really shows but if you are clean it sounds really good, so a
good instrument "teaches you" and inspires you, and helps develop a good touch.
I've said before, I'm just a monkey... you know, monkey see, monkey do... I just listen and try to work out how to play what I hear, watching good
players on youtube helps a bit, well a lot actually... a poor substitute for a real teacher though, so progress isn't as quick as I'd like, reading
music would probably help with timing etc, but Nawres keeps me on my toes in that respect, HE is a professional, and a good one at that.
YouTube is my Bayt Al Oud!
Thanks for listening and taking the time to comment.
Luttgutt - 3-7-2010 at 12:27 PM
I'm guilty too!
Heard your music, and wrote nothing..
From hearing this, I did not "guess" that you are a westener!!! You are even hitting the quarter notes as an authentic
I liked Chimali song. Playde staight forward, but well played.
One comment, if it is worth anything: It sounds to me that your pick is over one cm outside the tip of your fingers. I know many players do that (I
guess they do it in an early stage of learning, to be able to play fast timolos, and just get too used to it). exp.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcjggC4VYkQ&feature=related
But in my personal opinien, it is a bad technique. You lose presision AND spead actually.
I suggest you try with no more then 3mm out of the thumb tip. Use a "rounder" pick, more in this style (you can see the pick after 2.16
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2WSAg0ejLc&feature=related
Otherwise I really loved your playing!
Best wishes
Sazi - 3-7-2010 at 03:06 PM
Thanks Luttgutt, your comments are appreciated.
It's interesting what you say about the sound of my risha position... As you know from my earlier post I never had anyone to actually physically show
me how to hold the risha and have learnt from pictures and youtube vid's. Watching Marcel Khalife and the player in that first link you gave, Safwan
Bahlawan, who both play with well over a cm sticking out, made me think I was holding the risha too close, with only about 6mm sticking out, so I
tried that for a while but found it awkward and sloppy. Looking at Munir Bashir, his position was about the same as mine, 6mm, so that is about what I
use now.
I am thinking what you are hearing is perhaps the new risha I was using, a Pyramid "professional" that I found a bit too thick and hard, so I thinned
down one end a bit until it gave close to the same flexibility as my old favorite, I'm still getting used to it as it is quite different to use
compared with the beige one of a different material that I prefer. I would like to try a more rounded shape though, as you suggest, so when I get a
few more risha's to experiment with I'll work on it.
Cheers, S
fadel - 3-9-2010 at 08:40 AM
hi Sazi
I am wating 20 mint to downlod
it is nice playing relly
thank
suz_i_dil - 3-9-2010 at 02:01 PM
Hi Sazi,
very nice playing you have with your band.
Really like it...no more comment, just please keep on posting!
thanks
fhalaw - 3-12-2010 at 05:08 PM
bravo bravo!
Sazi - 3-13-2010 at 08:57 PM
Thanks everyone for your time and comments, I appreciate it.
Couple of gigs coming up soon so maybe some more posts then.
Best wishes to all, S