Search - Dastan Trio :: Journey to Persia

Dastan's Dandy Ditties

Dr. Debra Jan Bibel | Oakland, CA USA | 12/13/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The music on this album should be regarded as light classical. It consists of a modern suite of filigree improvisations on melodic phrases, called goushehs, and within given modes, called dastgah. There is nothing heavy or contemplative here, which is a nice change of pace from some of this well-recorded group's more serious endeavors. The barbat, a five double-stringed, pear-shaped lute provides a bass mandolin-like sound. The setar, the small long-necked lute with moveable frets is the treble. The rhythm is emphasized by a goblet-shaped drum, the tombak. The Western-based Dastan Trio consists of Hossein Behroozii-Nia, Hamid Motebassem, and Pejman Hadadi, and this 48-minute long, 2001 studio recording came during their Los Angeles tour. Now, that I have established the facts, I will note that I enjoyed this performance of cheerful music and liked the rhythmic drumming that propelled the group to the forceful conclusion. When you are in a lighter mood and want to hear something from Iran, this recording will do nicely."