Maryam Akhondy & Ensemble Barbad - Sarmast (2006) (REUP)

Info:

Maryam Akhondy (born 1957) is a classical trained singer from Teheran/Islamic Republic of Iran. She was student of Ostad Esmail Mehrtasch and Ostad Nassrollah Nassehpour, two masters of classical Iranian music. Because of the difficult situation for artists in Iran after the Islamic Revolution of 1979 – especially female artists – she moved to Europe and lives since 1986 in Cologne (Germany).
After 1986 Maryam Akhondy started working with other Iranian musicians in exil. With “Nawa” and „Tschakawak“ – both groups of traditional classical Iranian music – she performed in Germany and Scandinavia.
At the same time she founded “Ensemble Barbad”, a group with three to five musicians, all classical trained artists. Barbad has been touring all over Europe for the past years. Maryam Akhondy and Ensemble Barbad’s newest project is called “Sarmast”, which means “intoxicated” – in this case intoxicated from the lyrics of the greatest Iranian poets (such as Hafez and others). These lyrics have fascinated Maryam and inspired her to write songs. So this Sarmast-project are all her own compositions in the manner of classical Persian art-music. The CD "Sarmast - Iranian art music for texts of Persian poets" has been published in 2006.
Between 1999 and 2000 Maryam Akhondy created the all-female-a-capella-group “Banu”, because in Iran the public appearance of female singers is characterized by largest difficulties. Only for religious rituals, called Tazieh, it is allowed to make and to listen to music. For men it is forbidden to listen to the singing of women. Therefore singing is possible only in private sphere, where women are alone or among themselves: at the cradle, at the housework and work in the fields or on women's celebrations. Maryam Akhondy made it her business to bring traditional women’s songs back to life again. Over years she has been collecting songs and published them 2004 on her album “Banu – Songs of Persian Women”. The women of “Banu” has been touring in Europe, Turkey and Tunisia until today.
“Banu” (Persian word for noble lady or distinguished lady) is a kind of musical expedition to the different regions and cultures of Iran. It gives an informative view of the singing culture and self-confidence of the Persian women. Most of these songs are full of live and energy, being accompanied by various percussion-instruments. This is quite unusual for Iranian music which is often more serene and melancholic. But these old folk-songs are funny, ironic and give a view on the Iranian woman when she is in private. The women of “Banu” has been touring in Europe, Turkey and Tunisia until today.
Non-Iranian callaborations with Schael Sick Brass Band of Cologne de:Schäl Sick Brass Band between 1994 and 1999, with Mike Herting during the RuhrTriennale 2008 and Bobby McFerrin in 2009.

Tracklist:
01.Scharab E Talkh Bitterwine
02.Mast E Mast Totally
03.Saki (The Wine-Waiter)
04.Lahzeh (The Moment)
05.Bazar E Botan (The Bazaar Of Idols)
06.Tschaharmesrab
07.Jahan Khahad Bud (The World Will Be)
08.Mastaneh (Drunk)
09.Omr E Javedani (Eternal Life)