Ray Mirijanian's Music for Belly Dancing Vol. 1 (Mirta, 1970s)

I'm not sure about the exact figure, but it seems like oudist and clarinetist Ray Mirijanian recorded quite a few albums during the 1960s and 1970s for the tiny Mirta label, which was a joint venture between him and Middle East Restaurant proprietor Jim Tayoun. Although this establishment has been closed for quite awhile now, at one time it was among Philadelphia's preeminent locations for Middle Eastern cuisine, music, and belly dancing. Mirijanian and his various groups performed at this venue on a regular basis, and I believe that this was where a significant number of his records were sold. It must have been quite an experience to visit a restaurant where one could tell the waiter, "Yes, I'd like baba ghanoush, fattoush, felafel, chicken shawarma, and Ray Mirijanian's most recent LP, please."


While the liner notes don't provide any dates, my educated guess is that Music for Belly Dancing Vol. 1 must have been recorded sometime in the mid 1970s. A strong Greek musical feel permeates the performances on this album due to the presence of singer-clarinet player Alexandros Zaharias and guitarist John Koutsouros, whose instrument often sounds like a bouzouki to my ears. Mirijanian also provides vocals on some tracks and exclusively plays oud throughout the record, with his band being rounded out by a rhythm section including Mardiros Sarajian on tambourine and Joey "Zap" Lewis and Jim Thomas on dumbegs (here referred to by its Arabic equivalent, derbekee). The 18-minute "Belly Dancer's Show" seamlessly blends together Greek, Turkish, and perhaps other musical material and, according to Tayoun's notes, is "a belly dance instructor's dream staged in four parts featuring two drum solos put in to please the request of dancing instructors who have corresponded with Ray from around the country." "Anatolian Medley" and "Ya Kita Kosma Ena Korme" (a piece intended for a dance known as karsilamas) display the mixed Armenian, Greek, and Turkish heritage common in a great deal of Middle Eastern music, whereas "Arabian Debki Dance" represents another aspect of the wide-ranging genre. My favorite tracks are the two near-identically titled improvisations listed as "Tsifte Teli" (a Greek variation on the more common ciftetelli spelling, which is Turkish), with the second featuring an elegant clarinet solo at the beginning of the performance.

**If you enjoy this album, be sure to check out the review of The Ray Mirijanian Oud and Clarinet Volume 1, No. 1.

TOP ROW L TO R: ALEXANDROS ZAHARIAS, JOHN KOUTSOUROS, & RAY
MIRIJANIAN - BOTTOM ROW L TO R: JOEY LEWIS & MARDIROS SARAJIAN

1. Belly Dancer's Show
-Yar Satch Larin
-Madouvala
-Helvaci
-Te Na Ta Kano Ta Lefta
2. Anatolian Medley
3. Tsifte Teli
4. Ya Kita Kosma Ena Korme
5. Tsifte Teli (clarinet solo)
6. Arabian Debki Dance