Search - Sharam Nazeri :: Atash Dar Nayestan

The night the reeds fell by flames

Nader F. | Brookline, MA | 01/19/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Suddenly this two hundred year old poem of Majzoob Alishah comes to life at one of the most sensitive moments in world history. Its laments of justice in face of arrogance is striking. It seems like a direct reply to Mowlana's song of the reed, which he claims to be the only voice of feelings.The unique vocal vibratos of Nazeri combined with the sensitive and quiet composition by Zolfonon gives this cut a timeless universality. The other cuts then seem to be built around this poem, although they are based on poems from better known (at least in popular minds) poets like Hafiz, Khayam, and Mowlana.Anyhow, it would be hard to go wrong when you put Nazeri and Zolfonon together. The musicians on this CD make a list of who's who of established masters and emerging talents. Bijan Kamkar's daf is precise, yet haunting.Although the music is pure joy in itself, the poems make them coalesce. If you can find a good translation of the poems, you will enjoy the CD many folds. Too bad that the liner notes are completely insubstantial for such a substantial performance. (My CD is by Shahram Co., not Caltex, so my issue with the liner notes may not apply to the version for sale here)."