Constantinople - Passages (2016)

Constantinople expands the constellation of projects begun in 1998 by Iranian-Canadian setar (lute) player Kiya Tabassian. Passages features three other performers steeped in different Middle Eastern traditions: Lebanese musician Charbel Rouhana on oud, and two Turkish players, Neva Özgen on kemenche and Didem Başar on kanun (zither). Guests on percussion are Pasha Karami and David Majoral, while Kurdish Pooria Pournazeri contributes on Persian tanbur (lute). Özgen is the daughter of kemenche master Ihsan Özgen, whose records on Kalan are essential listening, and he himself lends support in the liner notes. The CD features mostly original compositions, apart from an austere peşrev transcribed by Candemir in the 17th century. But the key element here is the intense musical dialogue that manages to create a very solid, convincing musical space thanks to perfect rhythmic coordination. Neva Özgen opens the disc with a masterful improvisation in the first tune, penned by Başar, and then leads most of the thematic statements. Original in conception and brilliantly performed, this album rewards repeated listenings, continuing to reveal new treasures.