By Serene Serhan
Rum band entertained some but disappointed many in an interesting but raw concert at the North Theater of Jerash on Friday.
One audience member, Mona Muslali, said that the performance was not up to its normal standards and not what “we are used to.”
“I was surprised by the vocalists’ disturbing voices because I know that they are usually very talented,” she said.
“Rum Band’s performances at the Royal Cultural Center in Amman were much more mature and professional,” added Muslali.
The group’s manager and composer, Tarek Nasser blamed the problem on the festival administration’s postponement of the initial performance.
The group was scheduled to perform on the opening night of the festival.
However, the sudden and accidental death of 13 Military Elite Group members prompted the festival’s administration to postpone any musical performances for the night when Rum was the main event.
Meanwhile, another audience member, Saida Abdul Majeed, praised the band saying that “the group is very talented and I enjoyed their music very much.”
However, most of the audience agreed that the group’s performance, a mixture of western and eastern tunes, was crude and incomplete with numerous gaps within the rhythm and tunes.
Four female singers provided the vocals for the band’s music, including famous Jordanian songstress Sahar Khalife, who also plays some light hand instruments.
The mood music performed by the band included titles such as ‘Hilm,’ (Dream), ‘Nar,’ (Fire) and ‘Hub,’ (Love).
The group also performed more commercial jingles made especially for Egyptian soap operas.
The only by invitation concert filled the North Theater with approximately 2500 visitors, a record breaker for the theater this year.
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
