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Austin Live Music >
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republic of love
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Atash Album Review:
A Persian Pop/Folk band from Texas? at 2004-09-03
Well, yes! And even this definition is reductive and doesnt capture the true essence of Atash. The bands name means fire in Farsi, and they will not fail to light your soul on fire if you happen to listen to their music. They are definitely a band best experienced live, when the full force of their love for the world and for music is litterally blown in your face, but the CD recording will still capture your imagination. The group manages to artfully blend inspired vocals my Mohammad Faroozi, who sings both ancient traditional Persian poems and original compositions; masterful drumming and tablas percussions by Jason McKenzie (at times hitting a tabla with one hand while playing on his drumset with the other); romantic violin and lute playing by John Moon and Roberto Riggio; and the warmth of Dylan Jones bass line. Not to mention the occasional guest player adding more percussion, or accordion, or guitar to the blend. As a result of the multicultural composition and experience of the band, their music is a sum of Indian, Middle-eastern, African, Oriental, and even Latin influences. Their tunes will go straight to your heart and soul in an almost primordial way, and you could not help but feeling like a part of a whole, while letting your feet and hands follow the beat. A must experience for anybody lucky enough to be in Austin during one of their performances, or to catch them on tour.
Atash Album Editorial:
Farsi for fire ATASH is the ancient symbol of truth and life-energy. In world music it is a collaboration of five gifted musicians fusing the ancient and the modern to create a message of global peace which is both soulful and uplifting. The improvisatory elements of jazz and the music of India and the Middle East meet the raw energy of rock and the intricacy of Western classical music creating a dramatic and organic texture over which the powerful voice of Mohammad Firoozi passionately and poetically resonates. PAficionados of jazz progressive rock classical and instrumental music will delight to the rich modalities melodies and rhythms of this unique style of world music in which the singer#146;s voice chanting in Farsi serves as the centerpiece an instrument in and of itself. The orchestration is filled out with violins upright bass the Arabian lute Indian and North African percussion and drumset. Although Atash is an all-acoustic ensemble audiences with a taste for electronica are also devout fans of this world-class quintet.
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