Medjool is a Santa Fe based ensemble presenting both original and traditional music. Their influences are as exotic and diverse as places they draw from such as Egypt, Turkey, Persia, Spain, Morocco, India, Ireland, the Balkans, as well as the rich sounds of American and popular music from many eras. With extensive experience in such world music traditions as well as a long-standing love for experimental improvisation, their compositions are steeped in an ambiance of ancient sounds combined with a rich and moody sense of playful spontaneity. You may hear Medjool deliver an upbeat dance piece, such as you may find at a Romanian Gypsy wedding, then suddenly discover yourself drawn into a haunting song of longing and surrender, all mixing together to create a magical and dreamy experience of the senses. The five-piece band brings together experienced local musicians who have been participating in the Santa Fe scene for many years in a wide variety of collaborations.

Below is the disk review from the santa fe reporter by Patricia Sauthoff:

05/07/2008

Throughout Medjool's self-titled album, rhythms rise and fall to and from the forefront. One moment the drums take over the attention only to melt back and allow vocals to dance over their steady backdrop.

Medjool, a collective that comprises Santa Fe musicians Meagan Chandler, Jeremy Bleich, Sitara Schauer, Gregory Gutin and Jason S Ordaz, mixes the traditional rhythms and melodies of Arabic and Gyspy music with Western harmonies to create an atmosphere that is both traditional and experimental. Chandler's voice is the album's most versatile instrument; sometimes she simply creates another rhythm, at other times she chants like a woman possessed with a spirit from another world.

Medjool is an album that takes a listener not through a cohesive story, but instead though an emotional adventure. It's as surreal as a dream where the audience experiences only pieces of the others tale but is overwhelmed by the feelings that ooze from the instruments.

The album begins with a traditional song, "alto St. hora," which calls out with the carefree joy of pure celebration. Other songs, such as "RebBI," bring forth an introspective melancholy that is on the verge of lifting.

Medjool refuses to stick to just one tradition. Instead the band reaches out to music from around the world and masters each one with careful understanding and reverence.

Below is the link to the above review in the santa fe reporter:
http://sfreporter.com/stories/medjool_em_medjool_em/2676/

http://www.myspace.com/medjoolmusic

Merch:

Image	Description	Price
	medjool: medjool (deluxe download) Price $7 Digital Release: 320kbs MP3 files alto St. hora rain’Song bitterSweet more Soko pije RebBI RUMIrror WildChild grief Filesize: 124MB Also available in deluxe download format! …	$7.00	Buy More
	medjool: medjool (standard download) Pick Your Own Price $0-5 Digital Release: 128kbs MP3 files alto St. hora rain’Song bitterSweet more Soko pije RebBI RUMIrror WildChild grief Filesize: 50MB Also available in deluxe download format! …	$0.00	Buy More