On his second Lyrichord CD, world percussionist and dumbek master R. A. Fish takes you on a wild exploration of traditional Middle Eastern rhythms, improvisations and stuning ensemble performances that reach to the very core of the North African musical experience. The dumbek, tar, and riq head a virtuosic line-up of musicians performing on oud, qanun, saz, shenai, and other instruments. Selections include all the signature rhythms used in Middle Eastern dance, with written notations provided. Celebrated frame drummer Randy Crafton joins on bendir and the great Iranian poet and Rumi scholar Sharam T. Shiva recites a profoundly moving allegoriocal poem in Farsi, accompanied by Fish and Company.