From the 2015 movie, this album features the music from which Pakistani musicians came to New York to team up with a wide range of American artists. There’s something here for just about everyone, as a wide palate from Meryle Streep to Wynton Marsalis join together with traditional Central Asian sounds.
Most of it works amazingly well. “Blue Pepper” has Marsalis feeling comfortable with the bluesy take of strings and tabla, and Susan Tedeschi’s earthy voice sounds folksy on “Shelter from the Storm.” Streep sticks to voice on the buoyant “Speak” and Sean Lennon does his best George Harrison impersonation as he gets Sgt Peppery on “What’s So Funny About Peace, Love and Understanding.” Nels Cline’s electronic adds intriguing textures on “Laila Lo Laila, Madeleine Peyroux is stark on one of her strongest reads, “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child.” The New Orleans meeting Asia of “Yes We Can Can” with Bilal is a tiny misstep, but most of the time, you’re glad they did this project. Is food included?