The Rough Guide to Ali Hassan Kuban

AMG Review of The Rough Guide to Ali Hassan Kuban

Chris Nickson
All Music Guide

The late Ali Hassan Kuban was Nubia's greatest musical treasure, a man who helped make the region's music internationally known with a fire and a funk few have managed to duplicate. While this draws mostly from his five albums (with a big emphasis on Nubian Magic and Real Nubian: Cairo Wedding Classics), that's none the worse, making it a perfect introduction to the man from Nubia whose heart was in Muscle Shoals (or maybe Memphis -- either Tennessee or Egypt). And for the diehards who already love him, there are two excellent live cuts; the first, "Henna," from 1992, simply screams with energy, a man with a lot to say who is eager to be heard. "Gammal," from five years later, is equally powerful, but more subtle; Kuban had learned he didn't have to get in anyone's face to be listened to. The man made some remarkable music, blending Nubian and Egyptian elements with a natural feel for soul that crossed all geographical boundaries. He'll be missed, and this is an ideal tribute.