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“Doux Zen” is undoubtedly the most sophisticated album that Charbel Rouhana has composed to date. It holds the essence of his experience as a composer and showcases his maturity as an instrumentalist. He is joined in this Oud duo by Elie Khoury whose sensitivity is interwoven in the delicate knit of the melodies and harmonies that form the body of this work.
The seven instrumental pieces of this album are truly “Soft Zen” as they transport the listener to the realm of tranquility and transcendence. The album exceeds what oud aficionados expect to hear as it creates a new dimension in composition and playing. The compositions are intricate and wide in scope “from the baroque period to the present” and the virtuosity of both musicians is supreme.