Hossein Alizadeh is widely regarded as the most influential living figure in Persian classical music. Renowned for his mastery of the tar and shurangiz, he has composed numerous works in the traditional Radif style and created scores for many films. As a dedicated teacher, he has shaped generations of musicians and left a lasting impact on Iran’s classical music scene. His latest tour de force is a bold reinterpretation of the Persian Classical repertoire with the Hamavayan Ensemble, released as an extensive 14-volume CD collection.
The Rembrandt Trio is internationally recognised for its artistic curiosity and boundary-pushing collaborations that continually advance the world of jazz. Their album, It’s Still Autumn, which opened the 2019 North Sea Jazz Festival, was praised by critics as groundbreaking. While they primarily tour outside the Netherlands, a standout moment was sharing a double bill with jazz legend Chick Corea at the iconic Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London. The trio is also known for its pioneering work with Iranian musicians, including collaborations with tar master Hossein Alizadeh, kamancheh virtuoso Kayhan Kalhor, and vocalist Mohammad Motamedi.
For this special ensemble, Hossein Alizadeh and the Rembrandt Trio are joined by two members of Alizadeh’s Hamavayan Ensemble: his son Saba Alizadeh on kamancheh and Ali Boustan on setar. Together, they create a rich blend of European and Persian musical traditions, reflecting the deep mutual respect and shared passion that drives their collaboration. Drawing from Persian classical and folk music as well as Western jazz and classical styles, the group explores the universal language of music to find common ground. The result is a fresh musical style that opens up entirely new sonic and dynamic possibilities.