NOTE: Click small thumbnail images below to enlarge them. Photo by Walker DeVille

This shot is the only way to accurately reflect the blazing fingers of Samir Joubran, part of a triplet of brotherly oud players, Le Joubran Trio, who set Mountain Stage on fire with their playing on Sunday. But speed wasn’t the only thing hypnotic about the performance by the three Palestinian family members, joined on stage by the equally accomplished percussionist Yousef Hbeisch. You could see it in the audience as listeners swayed to the music’s pulse like cobras weaving to an Indian flute. Then, as the group finished their third and last song, the audience erupted onto its feet in a standing ovation.

What happened next may have happened before (but never on my many times at “Mountain Stage”). Host Larry Groce came on stage, whispered into Samir Joubran’s ear and held up a finger: “One more!” What followed was a breathtaking piece that opened with an Arabic tang — you could watch the improvising musicians toss the lead down the line of players, into the percussionist and back again to Samir. Then, the piece stopped on a dime and transformed into a Flamenco number, communicating the Moorish encounter between Spanish and Arabic cultures out of the depths of time. All you could do was shake your head in wonder, smile in delight. Then, be struck rueful at what might be accomplished if it were instruments, not instruments of destruction, young Israelis and Palestinians pointed at each other.

P.S. “Dudes with Ouds” is a line from sound engineer Ritchie Collins off stage in the wings, which Larry Groce wryly suggested the band might consider as their next CD title.

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