Aram is the Persian word for rest, calm, silence — and also the title of the brand-new album the trio presents at this concert.
Shahab Azinmehr originally studied the restoration of historic monuments in Tehran before devoting himself entirely to music. He learned the tar and setar from masters such as Mohammad Musavi and Dariush Talâ'i, and tours internationally with the Orpheus XXI ensemble under Jordi Savall — though it is just as much his voice that moves audiences. Robbe Kieckens, who plays tombak, daf and bendir, met him a few years ago — a connection that, as both say, "is as good on a musical level as on a personal one."
Derya Türkan brought the kemençe, the Turkish bowed lyre, to the world music scene: he combines classical Ottoman music with improvisation.
Three musicians, three traditions — Persian, Turkish and Flemish — that do not imitate one another, but search for a common language through poetry, melody and percussion.