Kayhan Kalhor is a native Iranian who now lives in NYC. He is a virtuoso player of the kamancheh, the so-called spike fiddle of Asia. It is played while seated cross legged on the ground, and held and bowed cello style. It has four strings and is about the length of a violin though the body is much smaller, resembling that of an nineteenth century gourd banjo. In the twentieth century the European violin began to replace the kamancheh, but it has begun to experience a revival, due, in part, to great players like Kalhor.

Besides an extensive background in Iranian classical and folk music, Kalhor studied Western art music in Italy and Canada and, in this album, applies some classical techniques to the "traditional" art music of his native country. These include occasional vibrato, quadruple time, staccato phrased passages, and general bravura passages meant to impress. His short, fast bowings are extraordinary, reminding me of the "butterfly" bowings of South Indian violinists like L. Shankar. He coaxes all manner of sounds from the kamancheh that I have not heard before.

All this is used in service to his deep understanding of the music. The program is divided into three long pieces; two with hand drum, and an unaccompanied, rubato avaz, the Persian equivalent of an Arab taqasim. - Stacy Phillips

Sound sample is Real Audio, from the album. Used by permission.