Portals of Grace
by: Azam Ali
Price: $16.98
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Azam Ali, who was born in Iran and raised in India, also sings lead forVas. Given herbackground, her attraction to Western medieval traditions (she cites the Germanabbess-composer Hildegard von Bingen as a major influence) makes perfect sense.After all, European early music was largely built on the Middle Eastern soundsand instruments brought home by returning crusaders. At times, Ali's vocalsrecall the great Spanish mezzo Montserrat Figueras, who explored the sameconnection but in a more earthbound, sensual manner. By comparison, Ali is anethereal force, soaring white-winged and untouched over pungent period stringsand percussion. She is equally at home in Latin, French, Ladino (the linguafranca of the Judeo-Spanish tradition), Galician (from Northern Spain andclosely resembling Portuguese), and Arabic. This eclectic set will definitelythrill fans of ambient, new age, and world music, but adventurous classicallisteners might also want to give it a try. --Christina Roden
Azam Ali, who was born in Iran and raised in India, also sings lead forVas. Given herbackground, her attraction to Western medieval traditions (she cites the Germanabbess-composer Hildegard von Bingen as a major influence) makes perfect sense.After all, European early music was largely built on the Middle Eastern soundsand instruments brought home by returning crusaders. At times, Ali's vocalsrecall the great Spanish mezzo Montserrat Figueras, who explored the sameconnection but in a more earthbound, sensual manner. By comparison, Ali is anethereal force, soaring white-winged and untouched over pungent period stringsand percussion. She is equally at home in Latin, French, Ladino (the linguafranca of the Judeo-Spanish tradition), Galician (from Northern Spain andclosely resembling Portuguese), and Arabic. This eclectic set will definitelythrill fans of ambient, new age, and world music, but adventurous classicallisteners might also want to give it a try. --Christina Roden
Disc 1:
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- A journey back in time...
This is a great cd, lost songs from Medieval Europe are resurrected by the genius artist Azam Ali. When I purchased this cd a couple months ago I didn't know it would be one of my favorite cds in my collection.Azam's vocals are perfect - that is the only word I can use to describe them.Her haunting tunes get stuck in your head with only one listen, and beg to be listened to again and again.All the songs are well produced, well recorded, and provocative.My favorite is the haunting "Inna ... Read More
Rating: - An enchanting album
I'm relatively new to Azam Ali. I first discovered her through Vas's recent album. Awhile ago I came across her debut solo album "Portals of Grace" at my local library and I immediately picked it out. I immediately fell in love with "Portals of Grace". The comparisons to Lisa Gerrard of Dead Can Dance is obvious. Azam has a powerful voice that is quite similiar to Lisa's especially when she is simply expressing herself via vocalizations. The mix of mediavel and Portugese music is quite lovely. One ... Read More
Rating: 
- Beautiful
Beautiful Midiaeval European/Middle Eastern Music and Voice.
If You like this CD I highly recommend "Kingdom of Heaven", which
is definitely as good and maybe slightly better.
Rating: - Ali shines like never before
Azam Ali has come along, presenting herself for those of us who longed for something of the same calliber and style as Dead Can Dance or Lisa Gerrard as a solo act. While recording with her bandmate Greg Ellis for Vas, her voice shined through with so much possibility but, alas, the music that backed her just lacked a certain something for me.
Enter "Portals of Grace", and we have found it. This album is a bit more straight forward than anything from Lisa Gerrard, to whom Ali is often ... Read More
Rating: - Mystical journey through a make-believe land
Azam Ali is an Iranian born singer and musician who grew up in India and later immigrated to the United States. World music fans know her as the Yin half of the band Vas, which Azam Ali founded with another talented musician - Greg Ellis.
"Portals of Grace" is the solo debut of Azam Ali, although Greg Ellis was heavily involved in the making of this album and is responsible for many musical arrangement featured on "Portals of Grace." On this album Azam Ali reinterprets medieval European ... Read More
- A journey back in time...This is a great cd, lost songs from Medieval Europe are resurrected by the genius artist Azam Ali. When I purchased this cd a couple months ago I didn't know it would be one of my favorite cds in my collection.Azam's vocals are perfect - that is the only word I can use to describe them.Her haunting tunes get stuck in your head with only one listen, and beg to be listened to again and again.All the songs are well produced, well recorded, and provocative.My favorite is the haunting "Inna ... Read More
- An enchanting albumI'm relatively new to Azam Ali. I first discovered her through Vas's recent album. Awhile ago I came across her debut solo album "Portals of Grace" at my local library and I immediately picked it out. I immediately fell in love with "Portals of Grace". The comparisons to Lisa Gerrard of Dead Can Dance is obvious. Azam has a powerful voice that is quite similiar to Lisa's especially when she is simply expressing herself via vocalizations. The mix of mediavel and Portugese music is quite lovely. One ... Read More
- BeautifulBeautiful Midiaeval European/Middle Eastern Music and Voice.
If You like this CD I highly recommend "Kingdom of Heaven", which
is definitely as good and maybe slightly better.
- Ali shines like never beforeAzam Ali has come along, presenting herself for those of us who longed for something of the same calliber and style as Dead Can Dance or Lisa Gerrard as a solo act. While recording with her bandmate Greg Ellis for Vas, her voice shined through with so much possibility but, alas, the music that backed her just lacked a certain something for me.
Enter "Portals of Grace", and we have found it. This album is a bit more straight forward than anything from Lisa Gerrard, to whom Ali is often ... Read More
- Mystical journey through a make-believe landAzam Ali is an Iranian born singer and musician who grew up in India and later immigrated to the United States. World music fans know her as the Yin half of the band Vas, which Azam Ali founded with another talented musician - Greg Ellis.
"Portals of Grace" is the solo debut of Azam Ali, although Greg Ellis was heavily involved in the making of this album and is responsible for many musical arrangement featured on "Portals of Grace." On this album Azam Ali reinterprets medieval European ... Read More
