Hakim - The Lion Roars: Live in America

Hakim's 2000 U.S. debut won plenty of praise, but to follow it up a year later with a double live CD could seem an odd decision on the part of label Mondo Melodia, and certainly daring. However, the results are more than worthwhile. Recorded in Brooklyn, NY, during a tour in early 2000, the power of this release easily eclipses Hakim's studio work. Already a major star in Egypt, he has a powerful voice that manages to be both rich and raw at the same time, as on "Intro," where he gets to display his vocal chops on an extended mawal (or introduction), working around the song's scale like a muezzin calling the faithful to prayer. Read More