Jordan Times - Sunday, August 7, 2005 - By Jean-Claude Elias

AMMAN - With Jordanian and Yugoslavian blood flowing in his veins, Belgian self-taught guitarist extraordinaire Karim Baggili is taking the world of music by storm.

At 28, the young musician has already recorded sensational CDs, given countless, highly successful concerts, performed with national chamber orchestras in Belgium and composed music and soundtracks that have won him unanimous acclaim. His love story with the electric guitar started when he was 16. Shortly thereafter he discovered the beauty and finesse of the flamenco guitar, thanks to the great master Paco de Lucia. Baggili soon took on this instrument for good. Upon a visit to his roots in Jordan a few years ago, the oud, the ancestor of all guitars they say, was revealed to him. He has since made these two instruments, the flamenco guitar and the oud his main tools to compose and perform.

Technically Baggili is what one would call a virtuoso. He masters speed, precision, clear sound and excellent phrasing. But in the world of music, virtuosi abound. What distinguishes Baggili is the originality of his sound, the freshness of his compositions, the harmonies mainly. The Oriental touch is present, very subtle but definitely present.

The orchestral arrangements he writes are modern but maintain the traditional quality of well-written scores at the same time. "Calais-Douvres" a track on the CD - which teams Baggili with La Nethen Chamber Orchestra - illustrates this quality. The influence of Spanish classical works, like for instance Joaquim Rodrigez's romantic compositions, can be heard in Baggili's music.

If one must absolutely put a label on Baggili's music it would have to be classical. Some of his works, however, are more on the contemporary jazz side. But a truly comprehensive description of what he does Flamenco, jazz, Oriental and classical must all have played a role in the genesis of Baggili's colourful, rich palette of sounds, rythms and harmonies.

Baggili was awarded the first prize at the prestigious Osnabrück Open String Festival in 2000. His agenda is full till late next year, but unfortunately for Jordan it's all taking place in Belgium only. Perhaps Amman will have the opportunity to host him in a concert one day soon.

For now, he is working on his upcoming CD, a collection of acoustic guitar pieces. In recognition of his talent, Wazif, a Belgian maker of exclusive, custom built electric guitars has released a signature model named after Baggili. Forgetting everything about technique, culture or information, and listening to Baggili's works with one's eyes closed is the ultimate test - a very fine, ear and mind pleasing, fulfilling music delivered with grace, taste and subtlety.

The gift of music surely must be running in the Baggili family, for one of Karim's cousins, Yazan Baggili plays bass guitar and sings with the acclaimed Jordanian band Distorted that has been selected to participate later this summer in a major music festival in Amman.