The music season has returned to the capital with the first of three high-profile shows celebrating the end of the holy month.
Kicking off the concert action was veteran Saudi singer Mohamed Abdo, one of the pioneers in popularising the Gulf sound to the wider Arab world. The 66-year-old headlined the first of two Abu Dhabi Summer Season shows at Yas Island’s du Forum on Saturday.
It was a lush two-hour set where the singer performed various crowd favourites and other select tracks spanning his four-decade career.
Clad in a white kandura with a Saudi-style white collar, Abdo exuded old-school charm.
Where many of his peers stride on stage with an iPad to scroll through the lyrics, Abdo used a ragged blue notebook. He is also not the kind of artist who makes small talk. From the moment he stepped on stage, he was a picture of concentration, which is necessary when some of the songs are 15-minute opuses in classical Arabic. The fact that the band Abdo appeared with are a regional bunch – from Lebanon, Egypt and his homeland, Saudi Arabia – was also indicative of the various sounds he has dabbled with throughout his career. The most popular of which, demonstrated through the warm crowd reaction, is the Khaleeji pop style, which has strings, keyboards and peppy percussion all tied together with his lilting voice.
Fortunately, not all of Abdo’s ouvre is heavy-going. New single Hob wa Ajrah is a case in point, and Abdo’s yearning vocal gave a sense of gravitas to what really is a fluffy pop song about a relationship on the rocks.
In Haza Sadiqi, Abdo showcased how Gulf music’s percussive character can blend well with more Oriental sounds; the track’s Turkish-influenced qanoon melodies were beautifully rendered.
Abdo shines, however, when launching into those aforementioned classical Arabic pieces. Ever a technician, he never failed to channel the emotions throughout, whether it was through the long and complex Al Sanin or the more subdued, yet nevertheless stirring, Ala’ Al Bal.
• Celebrations continue tonight with Palestinian superstar Mohammed Assaf performing at the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr. For ticket prices and packages, call 056 812 0960 or 056 812 0957