What makes Siwan by Jon Balke notable?

Siwan received critical acclaim for its unique fusion of genres and was praised in major publications like Jazzwise and All About Jazz for its innovative arrangements. The album stands out within the jazz genre for its incorporation of global musical traditions, influencing a wave of contemporary jazz musicians seeking to blend diverse cultural sounds. Released in 2009, Siwan is Jon Balke's follow-up to his acclaimed album, Divertimentos, which established him as a significant voice in contemporary jazz. At this point in his career, Balke was exploring the intersections of jazz with Middle Eastern sounds and Norwegian folk music, further solidifying his identity as an innovative composer and pianist.

How many songs are on Siwan?

Siwan has 11 tracks, running approximately 64 minutes.

Siwan

Jon Balke · 2009

64 min · 11 tracks · jazz

A meditative blend of jazz improvisation and world music influences, creating intricate textures and rich harmonic landscapes.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Tuchia — The opening track sets a reflective tone with its intertwining melodies and rhythmic complexity, drawing listeners into the album's atmospheric journey.
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Ya Safwati — This track features haunting vocals that create an emotional depth, showcasing Balke's ability to merge lyrical elements with instrumental improvisation.
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Thulâthiyat — At over ten minutes long, this piece exemplifies Balke’s adventurous spirit, featuring elaborate structures that invite exploration and sustained engagement.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

66 /100

Alpine

Higher than 89% of albums we've rated

Siwan blends intricate jazz improvisation with world music elements, showcasing strong craftsmanship and distinctiveness.

What we noticed

The album features a consistent use of layered instrumentation, with each track building complex textures through interweaving melodies.
Several tracks incorporate non-traditional jazz instruments, creating a fusion of sounds that reflects world music influences.
The pacing is generally slow to mid-tempo, allowing for extended improvisational sections that develop gradually over the course of each piece.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 7/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 2/10

Little footprint beyond its audience. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Tuchia 4:56
2 O Andalusin 2:25
3 Jadwa 5:17
4 Ya Safwati 5:17
5 Ondas do mar de Vigo 4:30
6 Itimad 6:43
7 A la dina dana 3:27
8 Zahori 4:56
9 Ashiyin Raïqin 4:16
10 Thulâthiyat 10:04
11 Toda ciencia trascendiendo 12:23

What to play next

Go back to

Book of Velocities

2007

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Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata