Other CD Reviews
5. Leon Rosselson, Reem Kelani & Janet Russell. "The Last Chance: 8 Songs from Israel / Palestine", Songlines Jan / Feb 2011
A long-term commitment from Leon
On this release, Rosselson seems resigned, however defiantly, to the downward spiral of the conflict. But that does not stop him from bearing witness to the inhumanity of what occurs. In such pessimistic times, perhaps the most consoling of all the tracks is Kelani's mournful qasidah (an Arabic singing tradition) to Jaffa. In its acknowledgement of pain and acceptance that we do not always find justice personally, it reveals how music can be a balm to the soul. Nathaniel Handy
4. Leon Rosselson with Reem Kelani & Janet Russell - The Last Chance (Fuse Records), Net Rhythms Nov 2010
The magnum-opus that is the heartfelt part-spoken title track remains the primary focus, with Leon's earlier narrative The Song Of Martin Fontasch forming an ideal starter to the disc and My Father's Jewish World the perfect introduction. Leon himself performs all but two of the disc's items; these append to the aforementioned classic Rosselsongs a pair of newly recorded offerings - the sardonic, jaunty Loyal Soldiers ("included in the interests of balance") and the predictive The Third Intifada - together with the passionate They Said… (taken from Leon's 2004 Turning Silence Into Song collection).
Janet Russell's unflinchingly superb 2005 recording of The Song Of The Olive Tree just had to be included, while Reem Kelani's intense composition Yafa! (Jaffa!) - powerfully sung by its writer in the time-honoured Arabic singing tradition of qasidah (an ornamental vocal improvisation, here rendered with a free-flowing, responsive taqasim-style piano accompaniment by Zoë Rahman) quite threatens to upstage Leon's own works in its visceral impact here (I must hasten to add, that doesn't happen!). The Last Chance may not be everybody's cup of tea, but this is intellectually and morally stimulating fare and pretty much essential. David Kidman
3. Leon Rosselson with Reem Kelani and Janet Russell "The Last Chance", July 2010
Getting the new album by Leon Rosselson is like a time travel for me. When I was a kid, my father got two cassettes with music from Leon Rosselson and Roy Bailey and after hearing the music many times my father took his guitar and started to play them himself. So some of Rosselson's songs are part of my life for over thirty years I think. My all time favorite is the record Love, loneliness, laundry, a record that I still love listening to. Although my father forced me to listen to all his albums from the past twenty years and some I did like, I find this new album one of the most impressive collection of songs in Rosselson's entire oeuvre. Eight songs, six by Rosselson, one beautiful Song of the olive tree by Janet Russell and the song Yafa by Reem Kelani taken from her beautiful album Sprinting Gazelle. They sing songs about Israel and Palestine and tell about their feelings in an intense, sometimes emotional and personal way. For many people this is a controversial theme but I think it's so important to keep standing up and share our feelings, our doubts, our thoughts and hope. These three artists did that in a wonderful way and hopefully they encourage people to keep the dialogue alive.Eelco Schilder
2. Leon Rosselson, Reem Kelani and Janet Russell: The Last Chance (Fuse Records), April 2010
And The Last Chance, the proceeds from which go to Medical Aid For Palestinians, certainly does that.
An eight-track compilation, it brings together music from both sides of the never-ending conflict between Israel and Palestine.
On it he enlists the support of renowned Palestinian singer and musicologist Reem Kelani and the celebrated folk singer Janet Russell - in splendid voice on Song Of The Olive Tree - to get the message across that what is being done to Palestinians in the name of Israel is nothing short of genocide. Being Jewish and with experience of living for a year in Israel, Rosselson manages to capture both the sadness of Jews who have lost the argument for basic humanity towards the Arab population and of the Palestinian farmers who have seen their land and olive trees obliterated through settler expansion. His choice of songs reflect the anger and frustration that zionist crimes against humanity can prosper only with the active connivance of Western imperialism led by the pro-Israel lobby in Washington. Kelani provides the link with those who survived the Nakba (the catastrophe) in 1948 when Palestinians were chased off their lands by the zionists. He provides an exemplary rendition of Yafa (Jaffa), a song written by Mahmoud Salim al-Hout who lost all of his writings when forced out of the city. Rosselson has not given up in the fight for justice for Palestine. His music celebrates the proud history of the Palestinians and their determination not to surrender to zionist expansionism. Yet he acknowledges those in Israel who oppose the genocidal policies of their government. Buy this CD, now. The struggle is literally life or death for those in Gaza so by buying this CD to raise money for Medical Aid for Palestinians you can assist the struggle to make sure that the voice of Palestine continues to be heard. Well done Leon! Ivan Beavis
1. Garth Hewitt, Martyn Joseph, Reem Kelani - Gaza, Palestine, July 2009
Six track charity EP of folk ballads in aid of a Gazan hospital. An extended EP of songs for and about Bethlehem, in Garth’s acoustic-roots style. These songs, inspired by Garth’s travels and interviews with those living in this ‘little town’, together raise awareness and concern for what’s happening behind the wall. It follows the launch of Garth's book, Bethlehem Speaks: Voices From The Little Town Cry Out in August.
Following the huge interest in Garth’s song, They’ve Cancelled Christmas In Bethlehem (The Wall Must Fall) last year, this EP is a prayer for the people of Bethlehem who are suffering a devastating impact from the separation wall that now surrounds them. The song received an extraordinary 36,000 hits on internet video site YouTube.
*** These six songs are powerful folk ballads telling the stories of the 'Broken Heart of Gaza' and the tragic loss of multiple lives. It contrasts this Hell on earth with an accusation as to why the world is strangely silent accompanied with a prayer for the Prince of Peace to bring healing. These are anti-war songs in the vein of 1960's Vietnam protests typical of Neil Young; an acoustic guitar and a mouth organ at home in a peace camp. This is Garth Hewitt's follow up to his song "They've Cancelled Christmas in Bethlehem (The Wall Must Fall)" which portrays Angels singing behind the wall where the Palestinians are contained. Welsh troubadour Martin Joseph contributes a heartbreaking track about the death of a family of five sisters killed in a moment by a rocket while Reem Kelani contributes an Arabic inspired track that can transport a listener to the melancholy of a Gazan funeral or a life in continual suffering that fuels the ongoing hate. As a charity record in aid of a Gazan hospital, this powerful EP deserves wide circulation. Simon Eden
Music & Life: Cross Rhythms