SALAH RAGAB & THE CAIRO JAZZ BAND - Egypt Strut 2LP

Definitive edition of 1974 Egyptian jazz classic. Remastered.

Original album with eight bonus tracks from related sessions on the second LP.

Full original artwork including Prism Music Unit inner sleeves and mini-booklet.

New liner notes by Francis Gooding (The Wire) and rare photos.

Highly recommended.

Egyptian movies, which are most often full of music, songs and dance, can be really something. And this album is no exception.

It is classical Egyptian music mixed with big band trippy jazz (Ragab collaborated with Sun Ra and others). There is even a Latin jazz track ("Latino in Cairo"). Unique, beautiful and exhilarating.

Echoes of Sun Ra's early Ellingtonia phase with just a twist of afro-cuban. If that combination sounds cheesy, give this a listen anyway. It manages to have a large and cinematic sound and the energy is infectious (nice party music for ultra hip partygoers).