Tapestry

There are more connections between the musical traditions of Persia and Ireland than one might think at first. These four musicians – two each from Ireland and Iran respectively, who got together in early 2016 to form the group Navá – tastefully explore the interweavings of the two countries in their debut album, Tapestry. At times the two cultures meet at a crossroads, on original tunes such as ‘Bray’, written collaboratively by santoor (dulcimer) player Shahab Coohe and banjo player Paddy Kiernan, and at others on traditional tunes such as the Irish classic ‘Banish Misfortune’ or the Persian ‘Chahar Pare’. Wherever the source of the music lies, the group manage to create a new home for it in the space created by their sensitive and dynamic playing.

While the repertoire itself forms new inter-cultural conversations, the instrumentation also facilitates this to a large degree. We are more than familiar with the sound of the banjo playing an Irish jig, but perhaps not with its cousin the tar (a long-necked lute played by Shahab's brother Shayan) doing the same. When joined by santoor, the soundworld becomes truly stateless. Niall Hughes' bass lines and bluegrass-inflected guitar style, as well as Shayan's mixed percussion, bring yet more welcome voices to the table. There's plen^ to ponder on here.