The long-awaited sequel to the April 2004 release Bellydance Overdrive is here! The New Turbo Tabla CD, "The Belly and the Beat" will be in stores November 7th, 2006. It is released by The Miles Copeland Group (Sting, R.E.M., Hakim, Bellydance Superstars, Oojami) and will be distributed intenationally by Universal records. The CD will sell online and in-store in the World Music / International Music departments of B&N, Borders, Virgin Megastores, and on Amazon.com.

The Belly and The Beat includes 14 new recordings. Each song utilizes the rich and evocative beauty of traditional Arab music. Authentic instruments are used, performed by top instrumentalists and performers. Yet each song is recontextualized into the Techno, House, Hip Hop and Asian Massive genres. The songs utilize heavy and tight dance grooves, bass lines and soundscapes. The result is a "Turbo Tradition" where the classic sounds of the East are bolstered for the dance floor.

Several sonic and musical themes are conveyed in this new CD. The opening track Turbo Tabla 4 is 4th in series of drum anthems with a heavy Hip-Hop beat. There are two other pure drum solos compositions: Stonecutter, a multi percussion feast with a techno pulse, and Banaat Turbo, a more traditional yet creative acoustic solo with very lyrical rhythms. Two songs, Tahteeb Diesel and Saidi Song, have a distinct Southern Egyptian "Saidi" sound complete with Rabbaba (spike fiddle), Nay (bamboo flute) and Mizmar (Egyptian oboe). There are three Vocal songs including the Arabo-Andalusian House mix Imlal Ilaqdah, the Mawal and Jungle excursion Ashoof Jamal, and the powerfull and slamming R&B future classic IRROUH. Samai Aryan is a reconstructed hard-hitting version of the most famous Classical Arab instrumental composition to date. Zaarathustra and Naseeb are dark and frantic Tribal songs. And a new direction is forged with Asian Massive-inspired IndiArab and Multiple East, where Karim's facination with Indian music is explored.

This new Turbo Tabla CD is a monumental creation for musician, DJ and producer Karim Nagi. It represents the re-imagined Tradition that he has always respected and performed. Now this Tradition is amped-up and extrapolated. It is now ready for, and relevant to, this new digital and ultra-sonic world of dance and aural ecstacy.