I am an Iranian musician with early classical music education which led to building a repertoire of my original compositions with a great tendency to jazz. But soon after a few years of original music-making I started to better know jazz as an art form and an attitude.
To me, jazz is a message of hope for peace and liberty and an encouragement for us to dream. But the more I learned, the more I felt sorry for my fellow Iranians who had no idea about the enlightening meanings associated with jazz.
That is why I have translated the lyrics to more than 80 of the most famous jazz standards and songs into Persian; so that masterpieces by Gershwin, Ellington, Monk and others can unprecedentedly be song and listened to by millions of Persian-speakers all around the world, hoping that the liberating sound of jazz will therefore find a great many of new souls to touch.
Under the name of “The Unbounded Sound of Me – A Collection of Jazz Songs in Persian”, I have produced the first two albums of this project all on my own in my home studio. I have played the piano parts and provided accompaniment (Bass & Drums) using software instruments and VSTs.
Musically, my work in these two albums has been a combination of jazz along with Iranian traditional rhythms, melodies and muqams in which I have had many years of vocal and instrumental practice.
The fact is that by calling my music as jazz, I do not just intend some stylistic elements such as Swing, Bebop etc. but rather than these, I see jazz as any creative musical approach that goes with improvisation and experimentalism. So, instead of making fixed arrangements, I always remain spontaneous even in my music production process and make sure that my recordings (especially solo sections) will keep this unrepeatable and once-in-a-lifetime quality.
Not surprisingly my project of translating outstanding internationally-known inspiring songs has not remained limited to jazz standards and has gradually developed to other genres such as pop, rock, soul etc.; even so, the main idea of producing unique, personalized interpretations of the songs based on improvisation (jazz approach) has still prevailed.
I have already launched a new project called “The Unbounded Shout of Me – A Collection of Rock Songs in Persian” including Persian renditions of songs by Lennon, McCartney, Dylan and so on.
In the upcoming volumes of my project, I would be truly inspired by collaborating with other musicians from different musical/cultural backgrounds; whether it be experimenting with some electronic or traditional instruments or discovering new horizons by applying a jazz approach to music from other genres and ethnicities.
Artistic Background & Overview of Works
* Got started with learning classical piano at the age of eight. (1995)
* Participated in several live performances as a member of a local teen ensemble, playing a collection of famous classical compositions. (1997-1999)
* Studied Philosophy at Imam Khomeini International University and also Psychology at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. (2005-2009)
* Started learning Setar (an Iranian traditional string instrument) mostly in a self-taught manner. (Since 2005)
* Formed a good many of original compositions (instrumental and vocal) with an increasing interest to jazz. (2007-2009)
* Gave the debut concert, performing an original repertoire accompanied by guitar, harmonica and drums at Pouya Social Institute. (2010)
* Held a benefit concert for Mahyar Arghavan cancer prevention charity. (2011)
* Performed an original repertoire arranged for piano, bass guitar, melodica and percussion at Azadi addiction recovery center. (2011)
* Played improvised music for a theatrical performance named “No man’s land”, a play by Niloofar Beyzaie. (2011)
* Gave a piano recital of original repertoire at Artin art gallery, Mashhad, Iran. (2012)
* Achieved six technical and vocational skill training certificates in six different musical skills and received a Music Diploma from the Iran Technical and Vocational Organization. (2013)
* Achieved Certificate of Graduation in Music Performance from Tehran Conservatory of Music. (2013)
* Worked as a music instructor and piano teacher in several music institutes and private classes. (Since 2013)
* Conducted various music workshops and Student Performances at different music institutes in Mashhad, Iran. (2013-2019)
* Started learning jazz and blues theory and techniques using books, methods and various online educational content. (since 2013)
* Performed a selection of piano repertoire of 20th century during a workshop at Kharazmi Music Institute, Mashhad, Iran. (2014)
* Participated in an Organology Workshop held by Advar Music Institute, introducing and playing melodica. (2015)
* Represented a fully-improvised performance in Piano Cafe in Gorgan, Iran. (2016)
* Started a project of translating the lyrics to the best-known jazz standards into Persian in order to produce new interpretations along with Persian lyrics. (Since 2016)
* Wrote a short story named “The Lunatic Pianist” as a criticism on the common music education approach. (2016)
* Participated in an Organology Workshop held by Advar Music Institute and represented an educational program called “Benefits of Learning Piano”. (2016)
* Performed a jazz standard repertoire including both English and Persian versions of the songs in Destek Art Academy, Ayvalik, Turkey. (2017)
* Founded an Online Music Academy providing video lessons and online classes on piano, vocals, music theory, songwriting and improvisation. (Since 2017)
* Equipped a home studio and recorded the Persian version of twelve jazz standards to be released in two albums titled “The Unbounded Sound of Me – A Collection of Jazz Songs in Persian Vol. 1&2” (2018-2020)
* Participated in a fusion music album production as a pianist and digital music instrumentalist. (2018)
* Composed and arranged a blues song for a multi-genre children’s music album. (2018)
* Signed with a label named “Daf Daf Production” founded by Mohsen Namjoo (an outstanding Iranian musician based in New York) and released the debut album. (2020)
* Performed as an online guest artist due to an invitation from Farhang Foundation; an Iranian cultural foundation based in L.A. California. (2020)
* Released the second album of “The Unbounded Sound of Me” project under the same label (Daf Daf Production). (2021)
* Authored a book named “Jazz, This Personal Mountain – An Instruction for Improvisation and Composition” since 2016; and got it published by Sorood Publications: an Iranian authentic music book publisher. (2021)
* Had an interview with HONARMAND newspaper, about the experience of being a jazz musician in Iran; which was published under the title: “Jazz is Freedom!”. (2021)
* Authored an article named: “Jazz and Attraction” published by “Harmony Talk”; a well-known online music journal based in Iran. (2022)
* Had an interview with JazzBuzz podcast about Persian jazz experience, album production, ongoing projects etc. (2023)
* Wrote an article titled “When We Talk about Jazz!” on jazz heritage and it’s association with political and social events; published by HONARMAND magazine. (2023)