Cymin Samawatie, Cyminology – Phoenix (2015) [Qobuz FLAC 24bit/96kHz]

Cymin Samawatie, Cyminology – Phoenix (2015)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 00:49:36 minutes | 967 MB | Genre: Jazz
Official Digital Download – Source: Qobuz | @ ECM Records GmbH
Recorded: March 2014, Rainbow Studio, Oslo

German-Iranian singer Cymin Samawatie and her band Cyminology continue on their unique course, allowing the subtle yet dynamic sounds and rhythms of Persian poetry to influence their compositions and improvisation. Phoenix is their third disc for ECM, like its predecessors (As Ney, 2008, and Saburi, 2010) produced by Manfred Eicher at Oslo’s Rainbow Studio. The core unit of Cymin, pianist Benedikt Jahnel, bassist Ralf Schwarz and drummer Ketan Bhatti are joined, for the first time on record, by Martin Stegner, the Berlin Philharmonic violist who has been a frequent collaborator since 2011. The viola, the string instrument closest to the human voice, becomes a kind of second singer here, extending the sense of East/West dialog alive in the music. The album is dedicated to the memory of Forough Farrokhzaad, the courageous and outspoken 20th century Iranian poet. Cymin sets some of Farrokhzaad’s verse here, alongside her own lyrics, classic Sufi poetry by Hafiz, and verse of Nima Yushij, often considered the father of modern Persian poetry. Jahnel, Schwarz and Bahti contribute as co-composers on several pieces.

This is the third release for ECM from the German-Iranian vocalist, Cymin Samawatie with her band Cyminology with an intriguing and exquisite set that fuses Persian poetry and rhythms with improvisation along with the musicians own diverse influences and cultural background.
The music itself is most absorbing with subtle melodies and delicate rhythms rubbing alongside and against the Persian verse in a manner that whilst totally unfamiliar me prior to listening to this recording has made me eager to find out more about Samawatie and her music.
With the traditional jazz line up of piano, bass and drums, but that is where the similarity ends but where our listening should begin. Yes there is improvisation but the way it is deployed is not in overtly swinging grooves, but in gently lilting rhythmic motifs that are determined as much by the words as by the interaction of the instrumentalists.
For the poems used to with her melodic compositions, Samawatie has turned to Iranian heritage, and dedicates the album to the memory of the Iranian modernist poet, Forough Farrokhzaad (1935-1967) to whom Cymin also dedicated a previous recording, As Ney (2008). Along with the works of Farrokhzaad, Samawatie uses her own lyrics and classic Sufi poetry by the fourteenth century poet Hafiz (c. 1325-1390), and the verse of Nima Yushij (1896-1960). It adds much to the enjoyment of the music that in the accompanying booklet that the Persian verse is translated into English.
Making the most of the resources within the band Samawatie conjures up sweet melodies that ebb and flow with the written verse that shifts up a gear into an easy groove with a swinging piano solo on ‘Aaftaab’ to be followed by the gentle melodic contours to the intro of ‘Che Gune Ast’ that again build on a slowly building rhythmic momentum utilising a superb of instruments and wordless vocals.
Keeping the set moving and adding variety, Cymin also engages in three duets, the first, ‘Hare Buse’ with bassist, Ralf Schwarz, with Jahnel’s wonderful touch at the keyboard on ‘Talash Makon’ and finally viola on ‘Phoenix Part 1’ that comes across as a duet for two voices, so close is the sound of the viola to Cymin’s delicately poised phrasing.
This is a beautiful album that quite rightly defies simple classification, and why not. For the listener with open ears that is much to enjoy. -Nick Lea, JazzViews

Tracklist:
1. Aaftaab 06:40
2. Che Gune Ast 05:05
3. Baraaye Ranj 04:00
4. Gozaraan 07:57
5. Harire Buse 04:38
6. Talaash Makon 04:27
7. Dishab 05:06
8. Phoenix, Pt. 1 03:01
9. Phoenix, Pt. 2 04:39
10. Baraaye To 04:08

Personnel:
Cymin Samawatie, vocals
Benedikt Jahnel, piano
Ralf Schwarz, double bass
Ketan Bhatti, drums, percussion
Martin Stegner, viola

Download:

mqs.linkCyminSamawatieCyminlgyPhenix2015Qbuz2496.part1.rar
mqs.linkCyminSamawatieCyminlgyPhenix2015Qbuz2496.part2.rar