To our great regret, Shahram Mirjalali will not be able to be play at the concert. Shahram Mirjalali’s visa application was denied twice, for very questionable reasons. We apologize for this case of force majeure. Reza Mirjalali and Mohammad Reza Mortazavi will perform and dedicate the concert to Shahram Mirjalali.
We know Shahram Mirjalali because of his part in the CD by the Iranian group Shahkilid, recorded some years ago on the Muziekpublique label. Shahram Mirjalali is regarded as a point of reference in the highly regarded Ispahan school. Shahram began learning the tar (a long-necked Persian lute) at the age of seven, thanks to his father, before starting to teach himself the barbat (oud family) two years later. When he was twelve he was invited to play the barbat on radio and television in the Kouzestan, region of Iran. Shahram quickly came to be regarded as one of the finest players of the tar and played on instruments which he made himself!
The tar is made up of a sound box shaped like a figure eight, with a skin cover and a long fingerboard of 26 to 28 frets and three strings. Mirjalali can be recognised by the warmth and energy of his style and by his ability to combine virtuosity and technique with fresh and inventive musical ideas. For almost 20 years he played in a duo with the grand master of the ney Hassan Kassai. Over all these years he also taught the tar to his son Reza Mirjalali, whom we know now for his duo « Neighbours » with the Italian accordion player Simone Bottaso, and who is coming here to accompany his father.
Mohammad Reza Mortazavi
Finally, there are few musicians who cross the frontiers of their instruments, but the Iranian drummer Mohammad Reza Mortazavi is one of them. In his country his innovations are not always welcome, because they are thought to depart too far from tradition. In fact, they are quite stupendous when they are appreciated for their true worth! Mohammad plays his powerful grooves without stopping, and sounds, all on his own, like a whole group of drummers.
- Shahram Mirjalali: tar, barbat (oud)
- Reza Mirjalali: tar
- Mohammad Reza Mortazavi: tombak, daf