The Amir Amiri Ensemble is a collective of the finest Persian musicians based in Montreal. Many of these musicians are internationally renowned, including Amiri, who is an international authority on his instrument, the santur. This makes the Quebec metropolis a beacon that attracts many musical travelers, sometimes uprooted from their national origins (for all sorts of reasons) and in search of a welcoming home for themselves, their families and their art.
In short, the Persian music scene is very strong in Montreal, and this album by santur master Amir Amiri, with his colleagues Reza Abaee on ghaychak, Omar Abu Afach on viola, Abdul-Wahab Kayyali on oud and Hamin Honari on percussion (tombak, dayereh and daf) is a magnificent vehicle for a rich, age-old and beautiful art.
The themes speak of cultural roots, ties with ancestors, new friendships, uprooting, etc., all matters that inevitably permeate the lives of artists exiled to new lands. Having seen them more than once in concert, I can confirm the very high technical and musical level of all the artists in this ensemble. The music created here (sometimes original, sometimes based on traditional tunes) is refined, complex and often bewitching to our Western ears. Lovers of both traditional/art world music and Western classical music will be particularly enchanted by Echoes of Persia.
A special mention for the album cover, signed by Montreal-based Iranian visual artist Marjane Saidi. A magnificent painting entitled Treasure in the Garden was used, and makes you want to check out her portfolio.
Echoes of Persia is a positive testimony to the incredible human and cultural wealth that welcoming newcomers offers Quebec and Canada, treasures that can then be redistributed to the whole world.
