How to become unpopular in 10 seconds

I know everyone is going to hate me for writing this because they oh-so-love their Shahram Nazeri, but last night's concert at Carnegie Hall was a great disappointment -- despite the standing ovation they got.

Yes they, and I think that is where the main problem lies: Hafez Nazeri, the son, is not as good a musician as his great father.


So when it comes to father and son, frankly, this is so much more melodious, and these are the one that have succeeded in combining Persian music with others.

Point by point

Shajarian v/ Touré

Weren't we all excited when Mohammad Reza Shajarian (together with Hossein Alizadeh, Kayhan Kalhor and Homayoun Shajarian) was nominated for the Grammy awards. Of course, they had been nominated the year before last as well -- the more reason to hope that they would receive the prize this year! And the "Saz va Avaze Abu Ata" on the second CD of Faryad is just unbelievably soul stirring.

But then, who else was nominated ... Ali Farka Touré ... probably the greatest African musician alive, in collaboration with the griot Toumani Diabate. Very different dialogues between the men and the instruments and yet, equally as mesmerizing.

When I think of the opposition and similarities between the music of Shajarian and that of Touré it reminds me of the two architectural masterpieces: the mosques in Isfahan and Timbuktu.