Turquoise

Mohammed Reza Ebrahimi is a virtuoso of the oud and Persian tar, and an instructor at the Music Conservatory of Tehran. On Turquoise, the latest in a series of solo recordings that span over a decade, Ebrahimi continues his focus on composinginstrumental ensemble music. In the case of this recording, the pieces are exclusively trio combinations, all underpinned by Sina Khoshk-Bijari’s frame drum and tombak. On the opening ‘Merriment’ and ‘Ecstasy’, Ebrahimi’s oud is combined with Sardar Sarmast’s accordion, which lends the compositions a somewhat Mediterranean quality. These pieces stand in contrast to the rest of the album, in that they feature the only pairings between the oud and a harmony instrument, imbuing them with a charming romanticism.

The middle trio of pieces feature Mahsa Shahbazian on qanun, and are the closest the album comes in texture to traditional Persian classical music. ‘Verse’ is a particular highlight, with the oud and qanun in perfect melodic unison throughout, creating one of the most quietly intense moments on the album. On the closing pieces ‘Wine Bottle’ and ‘Free from Sorrow’, Soheil Peyghambari joins Ebrahimi and Bijari on bass clarinet. This creates a sonorous blend of low-range resonances when combined with the oud and percussion, with the deep woodwind conjuring breathy ostinatos and reedy basslines. Ebrahimi’s compositions are consistently sophisticated, yet economical, relying on strong melodic writing and instrumental interplay, as opposed to falling back on displays of technical virtuosity. No piece outstays its welcome, and at 30 minutes, this is a succinct yet nourishing recording.