“Jalsat Tarab 2008” is the name of the new and long-waited for album of renowned Saudi singer, Abadi Al-Johar. The release ceremony took place at Jeddah Hilton, last Monday. It included a press conference and a live performance of the new album's six tracks, by Al-Johar, who is known among his fans as “the Octopus”, for his astonishing skill in playing the Oud. Al-Johar said that his new album is a continuation of his early beginnings, when he worked to revive folkloric songs. The conference was attended by Salem Al Hindi, Chairman of Rotana Audio, who was presented by Saudi actor Hani Nazer. “I chose this kind of folkloric color to be the main beat in my new album because I feel it is the genre preferred by most of my fans in the Gulf area,” Al-Johar said. “Although this album seems to be a remaking of previous ones in its folklore color and the limited use of instruments, the mixing and montage is better and more refined” Al Johar noted. The actual recording took place in Egypt, since studios in Saudi Arabia are far from professional when it comes to mixing and montage, according to Al-Johar. The new Album's six tracks are a mix of renewed folklore songs, including “Insan”, “Ya Aroos Al Watan,” and “Sayed Al Arefeen”. The Album's remaining tracks are a mix of modern beats, molded in folkloric musical instruments and percussions. By the end of the event, Al -Johar along with his folklore band and musicians have all played and performed the all six tracks live for the attendants. “I really was amazed by the return of Al-Johar's works with his unique velvet vocalization and shrewd playing on his Oud,” one of the attendants told the Gazette. The special event and press conference was very exclusive and was only designed for the promotion and publicity of the new album. __
