GUZO | WNYC New Sounds | August 2020

“The last time we heard from cellist Mike Block was his recent duo album with the South African guitarist Derek Gripper. Now, Block is about to release an album called Guzo – an Amharic (Ethiopian) word that means “journey.” The record includes music and musicians from Ethiopia, Mali, Syria, India, Nigeria, China and Iran. Now, the idea of a cellist making music that draws connections between many parts of the world is not new: Yo Yo Ma and his Silk Road Ensemble have been doing just that for over twenty years. In fact, Block has been a member of that group since 2005, and Ma has called him “the ideal musician of the 21st century.” Today, we are premiering a track called “Ifrah Web-Tisem” (“Rejoice and Smile”), a collaboration with the Omani-American oud player and singer Amal Waqar. The song is driven by plenty of hand percussion, and sports a catchy chorus in which everyone sings – even the non-Arabic speaking Block. Mike tells us, “Amal created lyrics that were repetitive enough that I could learn to sing them: Yo dan illi dana - There’s no direct translation for this, but dan and dana are common phrases used in Omani music, and essentially mean You go!, in a supportive, friendly manner.” By the way, it is still notable in the world of Arab music to hear the oud played by a master who happens to be a woman.

Mike Block’s Guzo comes out on August 21.”

-Galya Bisengalieva, New Sounds (August 2020)