CD Review | Remembrances (Self-published, 2023)

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Remembrances
Ziya Tabassian, percussion
Independent, October 2023

Montreal percussionist Ziya Tabassian’s new album features original compositions inspired by Iran’s Safavid musical heritage. Tabassian continues his musical project based on the rhythmic cycles of classical Persian music. The artist and ambassador for peace chose the Museum of Jewish Montreal as venue for the album’s launch, which is significant given the current situation in the Middle East.

In this creation, Ziya draws on rhythmic cycles (osul) from a manuscript written by Amir Khan Gorgi for the King of Iran in 1696 to compose original melodies. The result is a timeless fusion of Persian classical music repertoire and contemporary compositions.

This new sound experiment by Ziya Tabassian (featuring instruments including the tombak, bendir, dayereh, def, naqareh, cajon, cabasa, bell, spoons, anbor, cymbals) attests to the originality of the musical exploration he has been pursuing since the start of his career in early music (Middle Ages, Renaissance and baroque), world music and contemporary music.

Of particular note is the collaboration on this album of several seasoned musicians: Didem Başar, kanun; Maryam Tazhdeh, tar; Yasamin Shahhosseini, oud; Sheila Hannigan, cello; Anjana Srinivasan, violin; Saeed Kamjoo, kamanche; Nazih Borish, oud; Emmanuel Hovhannisyan, duduk; Fabio Accurso, lute; Marie-Laurence Primeau, viola da gamba; Krystina Marcoux, marimba.