Arab mp3 music

Jazz/World; Rozen hopes Web snares new fans

For several years now, Issi Rozen has been getting an education in distribution from his students. And he has taken the lessons to heart.

"I noticed that my young Berklee and private students don't buy music," said the 35-year-old guitarist. "They don't walk into stores, look at the CDs and buy them. They use the computer to search for music and then they download it."

Illegally, of course.

"At some point, the record labels will have to admit that this is how people - especially young people - want their music," said Rozen. "They don't buy it in stores anymore. That's a big change, a very fundamental change."

Unaffiliated with a major label, Rozen decided to take matters into his own hands to get his music heard. Last month, he released his new album, "Dark Beauty," as a CD available in the record stores, via online retailers and through one additional channel: his own Web site, where consumers can either buy the compact disc for $12.49 or purchase an MP3 download for $3.99.

The site, Next Step Music (www.nextstepmusic.com), also offers either a CD or MP3 downloads of pianist and bandmate Gilad Barkan's new album, "Modulation."

Rozen's effort isn't necessarily cutting edge in an arena where a legal Napster and Apple's iTunes are among the downloading services jockeying for business. But as an independent jazz musician, he is near the front of a pack that has to hustle more than ever to get music into the collections of fans.

A big motivation for his action is the possibility of reaching a younger and potentially far larger audience.

"I think the (jazz) record labels have kind of given up on that audience," said Rozen. "Jazz is usually marketed to the same people who read Downbeat and Jazziz (magazines). I don't see much effort being made to expand the market for jazz.

"It's not like I'm trying to avoid the audience that exists. I'm going for a bigger audience by trying to reach people who would never go out and search for the CD."

Chances are that at least some of those potential new fans are going to like what Rozen's doing on the accessible and often lyrical "Dark Beauty." The native of Tel Aviv, Israel, has made great strides creatively since he moved to the Hub in 1991, and the new disc is his best yet, richly varied rhythmically and melodically. Its quartet setting provides a powerful showcase for the leader's increasingly imaginative excursions.

Rozen celebrates the release of "Dark Beauty" on Wednesday at the Regattabar in Cambridge.

"It's more comfortable to experiment as a group now," said Rozen about his band. "It's more, `Let's try it, let's go for something, if it happens, it happens.' That's a big part of what has helped the music improve."

The guitarist takes much the same attitude to his new download approach.

"I say let's try it out and see how it works," he said.

The Issi Rozen Quartet performs at the Regattabar at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. Tickets are $12. Call 617-876-7777.

`MONDAYS' ON THE MOVE: Club Passim's "Arabesque Mondays" had to find a larger venue to host what promises to be one of the most fascinating international music events of the season, "The PanEastern Showcase," set for tomorrow night at 8 at the Regent Theatre in Arlington.

The concert will bring together many of the Boston area's top ethnic musicians and singers of traditional and classical Eastern music.

"This concert aspires to create a category of music that is larger than `Middle Eastern' yet is more specific than `world music,'" said organizer and player Karim Nagi Mohammed. "I feel that there are many musical and cultural similarities between India, Turkey, Iran, the Arab world and China.

"This is an effort to broaden the reach of these individual ethnic groups through cultural collaboration. If we can each become part of a larger group, we'll be able promote our cultures to a wider audience."

Tickets are $20; go to www.regenttheatre.com.

CD PICK: Diego Urcola, "Soundances" (UrkoMusic).

LIVE SURE SHOT: Josh Roseman Unit, Zeitgeist Gallery, Cambridge, Wednesday, 9:30 p.m. $10. 617-876-6060.

NEW DIRECTIONS: Jazz guitarist Issi Rozen is selling his music via his Web site. Fans can order a CD or download MP3 files of Rozen's latest album.