Hossam Ramzy

Hossam Ramzy returns with this set of mostly traditional wedding music, played at a jaunty clip and intended for belly dancing. Although here a CD, according to the notes this is actually the soundtrack to a DVD illustrating the dancing, although musically it stands well alone. Leading eight other musicians, Ramzy is a bit of a powerhouse here, although he never overwhelms the other musicians and singers. There's a lovely brisk energy to the performances, especially vocalists Yasmin Saied and Mostaffa Abdalla, but even so it ends up feeling a little bit by-the-numbers, with the players sailing through it all without any big investment of emotion. ~ Chris Nickson, All Music Guide