Shusmo – While you are prattling on about music, the old Carer asks, why don’t you give a plug to Shusmo? Wozzzat? I ask. Well, exactly, she says, that ‘Whatchamacallit’ outfit in NYC headed up by the Palestinian buzuq player Tareq Abboushi that fuses our favourite African American jazz riffs with Latin rhythms and Arabic tonality and whatnot. The double bass player has definitely got the Mingus touch and the congas would be respectable in Cuba. Well, right on (as they used to say!) These are definitely among our Favourite Things! That’s a dabke, she shouts as the last track comes on. I groan, as there she goes again talking nonsense – when has she ever seen a dabke, and whoever heard of a dabke danced to congas? Well, I mutter under my breath, it’s certainly not a rumba! I heard that! she retorts. They have already sounded flamenco, so why not dabke? In any case, culture is a process of transformation and these Palestinians are very creative! So, you Bloggers out there who have ears to hear, check out SHUSMO – Yey! You will be aurally transported (somewhere). (P.S. Am I allowed to advertise??)