Eishan Ensemble

For his fourth album under his own name, Iranian-Australian tār player Hamed Sadeghi assembled an ensemble that navigates between Eastern and Western cultures.

Although his music is deeply rooted in the Persian tradition, he carefully adds stylistic elements of jazz and Western (contemporary) classical music. Improvisation and emotional depth are the extras that give "Empty Voices" a unique tonal color. The common thread throughout is paying attention to small details and everyday things that usually go unnoticed. The album's title refers to the writings of Sufi poet Rumi and his theory of letting go of oneself and going with the “flow.”

The album builds gradually. Opening track “Please” and then “Taarof” evoke images of a rising sun with a subtle play of light and shadow. Initially, the tār or long-necked lute sets the overall mood and tone. Gradually, the other musicians join in step by step. These include Sandy Evans (soprano and tenor saxophone), Paul Cutlan (bass clarinet), Michael Avgenicos (alto saxophone), Thomas Avgenicos (trumpet), Adem Yilmaz (percussion), and double bassist Lloyd Swanton, known from The Necks. The wind instruments masterfully blend in, almost disappearing to avoid overpowering the double bass and tār.

Think of desert landscapes under scorching heat and the welcome rest stops of a caravanserai. Other points of reference include the mystical aura and religious rituals borrowed from Sufi traditions. Throughout the whole work, subtle rhythmic shifts emerge, bringing the most introverted qualities of each instrument to the forefront. This approach disguises the underlying musical richness through a seemingly simple framework, breaking the linearity of traditional music. In several passages, the rhythm is based on existing poems, though the text has been omitted. “Mother Tongue” is a virtuoso example of this, particularly in the seamless interplay between reed instruments and trumpet.

For references, we can mention Anouar Brahem, Munir Bashir, "Hymn To The Seeker" by Mac Gayden, and the ECM catalog.

The premiere took place during the Sydney Festival 2023. Performances followed in the renowned Sydney Opera House and across Australia, with highlights at the Melbourne International Jazz Festival and Brisbane International Jazz. In the fall, Sadeghi will tour Europe, with stops in Belgium, including De Centrale.

In collaboration with Arshe vzw.