Silver Lining

Kohesia Ensemble is a mix of Persian and Western musicians whom Australian bassist Kate Pass has brought together, and this is their second album. Neither purely jazz nor entirely Persian, the result is (in Pass’ words) ‘something else entirely.’ And certainly, while the constituent parts of this album are clearly identifiable, it is incredibly satisfying to hear a traditionally inspired ney (flute) solo lead seamlessly into a modal piano solo with hints of Chick Corea. We hear some very stereotypical sounds from both camps: the unison melodies of ney and setar (which is actually a Turkish saz made to sound like a setar) as well as the explorations of saxophone and fusion drumming. Nonetheless, and far from being gimmicky, the album is a fascinating conversation between two very disparate yet complementary styles.

Together, the band explore the microtonal connections between jazz and the Persian dastgāh (modal system) on tracks such as the title-track, with the trumpet and sax echoing the slinky meanderings of the ney. Indeed, each side of this conversation seems to have its counterpart: drums answer daf (frame drum), oud answers bass, sax answers ney. East meets Down Under.