The Astounding Eyes of Rita

The Astounding Eyes of Rita is an album by Tunisian oud player and composer Anouar Brahem recorded for ECM in Italy, October 2008 and released on September 25, 2009.

Reception
Writing for The Guardian, reviewer John Fordham observed "In recent years, Brahem's work has been more refined and reflective than groove-inclined, but this vivacious quartet set marks a return to the chemistry of Thimar, and it's a richly varied and often thrilling piece of world-jazz."

Writing for All About Jazz, John Kelman noted "After two discs of sparer chamber music, it's great to hear Brahem back with a pulse; but with Meyer, Gesing, and Yassine as partners, he's retained the elusive mystery of albums like Le pas du chat noir (2002), making The Astounding Eyes of Rita his most aesthetically unified album to date."

Musicians

 * Anouar Brahem – oud
 * Klaus Gesing – bass clarinet
 * Björn Meyer – bass
 * Khaled Yassine – darbouka, bendir

Technical personnel

 * Manfred Eicher – producer
 * Stefano Amerio – engineer
 * Lara Persia – assistant engineer
 * Sascha Kleis – design
 * Fouad Elkoury – cover photography
 * Luca D'Agostino – liner photography
 * Mahmoud Darwish – poem in booklet