Aly Eissa

In recent years, many have become aware of the Egyptian oud player and composer Aly Eissa. He has long been a central part of the richly creative music scene in Cairo, but in recent years has really made his mark touring the world, both as a solo artist and with the trio The Handover.

Eissa was mentored in formative years by two legendary figures in Egyptian music; composer and multi-instrumentalist Abdo Dagher, and oud master Hazem Shahin. The music we are presented with on “Eggshells” is heavily rooted in both Egyptian classical music and a number of different folk music traditions, but goes it´s own way, through expansive and intricate original compositions.

The epic title track, where Eissa plays oud exclusively, takes up 2/3 of the album. It seamlessly transitions into "Sukr At-taganni", where Aly, in addition to formidable oud playing, recites poetry by the Arab poet Baha´ al-din Zuhayr (1186-1258) in an exceptionally moving manner; serious, loving, tender and insistent. Impressively visionary and virtuoso, but at the same time warm and close. "Eggshells" has many of the qualities of a classic!