WOMAD

Ensemble Shanbehzadeh

From Iran

Boushehr, in the south of present-day Iran, has always been a town very much at the cultural crossroads. Its music is a product of the traffic that crossed each other here on the edge of the Persian Gulf centuries back, taking the very best elements of Persian, Arabic, African and Indian music to forge something that’s always played a large part in the town’s daily life. The protection of this traditional music rests squarely on the shoulders of Ensemble Shanbehzadeh, but they’re most reluctant to merely delicately preserve an untouchable tradition – instead they add jazz inflections and a commitment to maintain a celebratory mood. For this weekend’s performance, the ensemble is slimmed down to the duo of Saeid and Naghib Shanbehzadeh, but don’t assume this means the performance will be tame and restrained. Saeid is particularly noted for the exuberance and spirit he brings to the live stage, a ball of energy that effortlessly draws the audience in through his vocals and his virtuoso flute and percussion-playing.