Mike's Oud Forums

Iranian barbat players to check out

Jack_Campin - 12-18-2017 at 10:12 AM

I'm in Paris right now and I've looked into a couple of Iranian places that sell CDs. Barbat content: zero.

Who's worth listening to and available on CD? And from where?

MattOud - 12-18-2017 at 10:55 AM

Hi Jack,
Not sure what style you like, but I am liking this album currently right now:

https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/yasaminshahhosseini

or digitally:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/g%C4%81h%C4%81n/1054599576

I went digital and then just burned a CD myself. Song 1. and 5. are my favourites!
I'll be interested in what other CD may exist as well.
Cheers.

John Erlich - 12-18-2017 at 11:27 PM

Here are 3 suggestions:

https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/mohammadrezaebrahimi or https://www.amazon.com/Sana-Solo-Playing-Mohammad-Reza-Ebrahimi/dp/B...

https://www.amazon.com/Masters-Persian-Traditional-Music-Instrumenta...

https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/behroozinia2

Peace out,
"Udi" John

mich - 12-20-2017 at 05:52 AM

Shahhosseini is definitely great. Unfortunately, she has released only the one CD. She did another one as part of the "Three Oud Ensemble" with Shahram Gholami and Omid Tofighi ( https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/euphoria-three-oud-ensemble/964075... ).

Gholami has released a few recordings too. One of my favorites is "Desert Sunrise" (https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/desert-sunrise-vinyl/324639519) but his "Circles and Cycles" is also good ( https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewCollaboration... ).

As John noted, Hossein Behroozinia is an excellent Persian oudist (barbatist?) and his albums "From Stone Till Diamond" and "In the Realm of Solitude" are beautiful (though they can sometimes lean toward a "new age" sound). And I second his suggestion of Ebrahimi's "Sana: Ud Solo Playing." It's great to listen to.

More recently, I came across this two-part set recorded by Ali Pajooheshgar called "Forty two Pieces for Oud - Maestro Nariman`s Works." ( https://www.amazon.com/Forty-two-Pieces-Oud-Collection/dp/B008Y2PH7M... ).

MattOud - 12-20-2017 at 05:59 AM

Very Nice!!
The song, 'Shore', on the 'Forty two Pieces for Oud' album is amazing!
Here is one more for today that I really really like alot! Soft playing, beautiful for relaxing or studying to:

Bijan Kamkar and Hosein Behroozinia- Koohestan(Mountain) Persian Oud Solo 2011
https://open.spotify.com/album/284Nk3n1tm7Jo0Xt7yaXFe

mich - 12-20-2017 at 06:49 PM

Thanks! I like the Kamkar and Behroozinia record, but it's a bit to energetic for the work I have to do this week (grading students' final papers).
The "Forty Two Pieces" and two records by Majid Nazempour ("Wisdom" and "Philosophy") both are better for keeping the back of my brain occupied while the front of my brain works its way through the twists of undergraduate writing.

majnuunNavid - 12-20-2017 at 08:35 PM

I was elated when I discovered this one. Arsalan Kamkar. Usually you only hear Arsalan Kamkar's playing in the ensemble which the Oud just sounds like mush behind all the other instruments. (I absolutely HATE the way Oud/Barbat sounds in Persian ensembles, it might as well not be there.) So this is a great way to hear his solo Oud playing. It's a unique album.

spotify:album:2G5oUMNVNjGMK4Ba4I70K1

https://open.spotify.com/album/2G5oUMNVNjGMK4Ba4I70K1

Rozhiar (Duo for Oud and Percussion) Kurdish Instrumental Music

bugaga - 12-21-2017 at 01:31 AM

Quote: Originally posted by MattOud  
Very Nice!!
The song, 'Shore', on the 'Forty two Pieces for Oud' album is amazing!
Here is one more for today that I really really like alot!

I love it, too. I can recommend getting the book to it. These are nice pieces to play.
Quote: Originally posted by majnuunNavid  
I absolutely HATE the way Oud/Barbat sounds in Persian ensembles, it might as well not be there.

I disagree on that. The oud has a completely different timbre and range than other instruments in these ensemble (the classical robab and the bamtar also are sharing similar roles in these contexts), as most instruments are higher in pitch and more brilliant, and especially when the ensembles are not extraordinarily huge the presence of oud in my opinion is making a big difference. In Dastan ensemble where all instruments are sounding completely different from another every single player has his place and I like the interplay. Also in Alizadeh's work I like it very much when there's an oud.
Of course, sometimes oud is giving rhythmical drones or "paye", but even then it's not just about giving the oudist something to do, but shaping the sound.

By, the way, I really like Negar Boubans playing. Unfortunately I don't have a cd of her, yet.

mich - 12-21-2017 at 03:56 AM

Bugaga - Do you have a suggestion as to where to get the book to the "42 Pieces"? It didn't turn up in a search for me.

And you can download Bouban's "Through" (oud and vocals) here: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/negarbouban2

Jody Stecher - 12-21-2017 at 06:50 AM

Don't forget A. Shahidi. Oud, not barbat (as understood these days), and very good.

Jono Oud N.Z - 12-21-2017 at 10:55 AM
Quote:

I was elated when I discovered this one. Arsalan Kamkar. Usually you only hear Arsalan Kamkar's playing in the ensemble which the Oud just sounds like mush behind all the other instruments. (I absolutely HATE the way Oud/Barbat sounds in Persian ensembles, it might as well not be there.) So this is a great way to hear his solo Oud playing. It's a unique album.



Will track this one down
Thanks!:)

yavaran - 12-28-2017 at 11:23 PM

The only player who I feel truly does the oud/barbat justice in Iranian music is Mansour Nariman.

Even his students (behrooznia among them) don't seem to be able to capture the same clean and dynamic sound.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCp7Bkwjr2g&index=54&list=WL

bugaga - 1-13-2018 at 07:26 AM

Quote: Originally posted by mich  
Bugaga - Do you have a suggestion as to where to get the book to the "42 Pieces"? It didn't turn up in a search for me.

And you can download Bouban's "Through" (oud and vocals) here: [url]https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/negarbouban2
[/url]
Here you are. If you know anyone going to Iran soon who could bring it, it would be much cheaper.