{{Infobox album| | name = Blue Maqams | type = Album | artist = Anouar Brahem | cover = Blue Maqams.jpg | alt = | released = {{Start date|2017|10|13}} | recorded = {{Start date|2017|05}} | studio = Avatar (New York, New York) | genre = Jazz | length = {{Duration|h=1|m=16|s=49}} | label = ECM<br>ECM 2580 | producer = Manfred Eicher | chronology = Anouar Brahem | prev_title = Souvenance | prev_year = 2014 | next_title = After the Last Sky | next_year = 2025 }}

'''''Blue Maqams''''' is a studio album by Tunisian oud player and composer Anouar Brahem, recorded in New York in May 2017 and released on ECM October that same year. The quartet features rhythm section Dave Holland and Jack DeJohnette alongside pianist Django Bates.<ref name="ECM discography">[https://www.ecmrecords.com/catalogue/1501068700 ECM Catalogue] accessed December 18, 2017</ref>

==Reception== {{Album ratings | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1Score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name="Allmusic"/> | rev2 = The Guardian | rev2Score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name="TheGuardian"/> | rev3 = All About Jazz | rev3Score = {{rating|4.5|5}}<ref name=AAJ/> | rev4 = RTÉ | rev4Score = {{rating|5|5}}<ref name=RTÉ/> | rev5 = Financial Times | rev5Score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name=FT/> }} The album received wide acclaim around the world.

In ''DownBeat'', Bobby Reed wrote "The result is a program that features traditional music from Arab culture as well as more modern jazz elements. The word 'maqam' refers here to Arabic melodic art, but also to Iraqi maqam, as practiced by master oud player Munir Bashir. Each musician shines here."<ref>Reed, B. [http://downbeat.com/reviews/detail/blue-maqams DownBeat Review], October 2017</ref>

On AllMusic, Thom Jurek observed "''Blue Maqams'' is lovely. It's a nearly perfect illustration of balance between cultural and musical inquiry, underscored by the confidence and near symbiotic communication of this gifted ensemble. This is an exceptional outing, even for an artist as accomplished and creative as Brahem."<ref name="Allmusic">{{AllMusic|first=Thom |last=Jurek |class=album |id=mw0003099841 |title= Anouar Brahem: ''Blue Maqams'' – Review |accessdate=December 18, 2017}}</ref>

Writing for The Guardian reviewer John Fordham stated "Brahem’s oud often sketches in the themes, sometimes shadowed by the others in dreamy twilight reflections, more often accelerating into languidly swaying nightwalks such as the title track. Spanish-tinged guitar-like jams end in drum flurries, while thumping Holland bass vamps release scintillating jazz breakouts ... It’s a real meeting of hearts and minds."<ref name="TheGuardian">Fordham, J. [https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/oct/19/anouar-brahem-blue-maqams-review-ecm-jazz-oud The Guardian Review], October 20, 2017</ref>

Writing for All About Jazz, Mark Sullivan noted "This is the closest thing to a jazz recording Brahem has made—but it is still completely his own vision, aided by an exceptionally sympathetic group of players."<ref name="AAJ">Sullivan, M. [https://www.allaboutjazz.com/blue-maqams-anouar-brahem-ecm-records-review-by-mark-sullivan.php All About Jazz Review], November 3, 2017</ref>

RTÉ reviewer Paddy Kehoe called it "Entrancing, essential stuff" declaring "Tunisian oud master Anouar Brahem marries the resonant stringed instrument of that name skilfully and intuitively in a glorious collaboration with the work of bassist Dave Holland, drummer Jack DeJohnette and pianist Django Bates on ''Blue Maqams''. Shifting and rolling along in the seductive current, the original native Maghreb thread is never lost in the tentatively subtle explorations at play on this album."<ref name="RTÉ">Kehoe, P. [https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/music-reviews/2017/1019/913619-anouar-brahem-blue-maqams/ RTÉ Review], October 19, 2017</ref>

''Financial Times''{{'}} writer David Honigmann called it "Brahem’s best set since ''Le pas du chat noir''."<ref name="FT">Honigmann. D. [https://www.ft.com/content/4ce35bbe-ac8e-11e7-beba-5521c713abf4 Financial Times Review], October 13, 2017</ref>

==Track listing== {{Track listing | all_writing = Anouar Brahem | title1 = Opening Day | length1 = 7:01 | title2 = La Nuit | length2 = 10:28 | title3 = Blue Maqams | length3 = 8:41 | title4 = Bahia | length4 = 8:45 | title5 = La passante | length5 = 4:05 | title6 = Bom dia Rio | length6 = 9:23 | title7 = Persepolis's Mirage | length7 = 8:06 | title8 = The Recovered Road to Al-Sham | length8 = 9:26 | title9 = Unexpected Outcome | length9 = 10:59 | total_length = 1:16:49 }}

==Personnel== * Anouar Brahem – oud * Django Bates – piano * Dave Holland – bass * Jack DeJohnette – drums

==References== {{reflist}} {{Anouar Brahem}} {{Authority control}}

Category:ECM Records albums Category:Anouar Brahem albums Category:2017 albums Category:Albums produced by Manfred Eicher