KAYHAN KALHOR ON HIS LATEST RECORDING HAWNIYAZ, HIS ROLE IN MUSIC, AND WHAT FUELS HIS INSPIRATION

The Middle East and Central Asia have a lot in common musically and the coming together of artists from diverse regions can lead to a sound that while cohesive, is yet fresh and innovative. Such is the case for the latest recording Hawniyaz (meaning “two or more people who need each other”) by Kurdish Persian kamancheh (spike fiddle) virtuoso Kayhan Kalhor in collaboration with Kurdish Turkish singer Aynur, Azerbaijani jazz pianist Salman Gambarov, and German-born Kurdish tenbûr (long-necked lute) player Cemîl Qoçgirî. The album is a collection of old Kurdish folk songs that are rarely performed or heard. Besides the innate beauty of these timeless melodies, what makes this recording of endangered songs special, are the innovative arrangements which not only create a bridge to the 21st century but also between East and West. These are poignant ballads speaking of love, loss, and yearning with powerful vocals over tasteful instrumental accompaniments, exquisite solo interludes, and the perfect balance between traditional folk music and jazz. There is space in these arrangements, at times a sense of suspension which brings emphasis to the meanings of these songs. The lyrical and flowing quality of the piano, the poignant expressiveness of the kamanche, and Qoçgiri’s rich and sensitive tenbûr playing augment Aynur’s voice which becomes the primary instrument and resonates with emotion. The songs speak of love, loss, longing, and the tragedy of separation.

Each musician in this project is unique and highly accomplished. Kayhan Kalhor is not only known for his solo work but also for being the other half of Ghazal, the Indo-Persian fusion ensemble with sitarist Shujaat Husain Khan. He is an integral part of Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble and has also recorded, performed, and toured with some of Iran’s most important masters such as Mohammad Reza Shajarian, Hossein Alizadeh, Shahram Nazeri, and Ali Akbar Moradi. Cross-cultural collaborations provide an exciting turf for him to explore new musical idioms and shared expressions, as demonstrated by his work with Turkish bağlama (long-necked Turkish lute) player Erdal Erzinkan, and his most recent tour with African kora master Toumani Diabaté.  On Hawniyaz, he performs on the shahkaman which is a five- string version of the kamancheh.

Aynur is a singer whose extraordinary voice invokes a multitude of emotions. Besides her acclaimed solo work, she has collaborated with Yo-Yo Ma and The Silk Road Ensemble, Javier Limon, Merçan Dede, Kardeş Türküler, and Morgenland All Star Band, and others.

Jazz pianist and composer Salman Gambarov is the founder of Bakustic Jazz, an ensemble whose membership varies depending on projects. He has performed the world over and often deftly combines folk idioms with jazz.

Cemîl Qoçgirî was born in Germany but is deeply rooted in his Kurdish-Alevi (Qizilbash) heritage. His instrument, the tenbûr is not only central to his culture but deemed sacred to the Alevis. In 2005, Qoçgirî traveled throughout Dersim in Turkey, where his family comes from, to capture on film perhaps the last living authentic dervishes. These travels were made into the musical documentary Sarraf. His mastery of the tenbûr and his creative approach to new musical experiments have garnered him praise both from colleagues and listeners around the world.

Speaking from his home in southern California, Kalhor explains how the project took shape. “I first met Aynur at the Morgenland Festival in Germany in 2012,” he says. “I was totally impressed by her voice and wanted to use that dimension of her voice in a repertoire that has not been presented before, or at least not before a Western audience. The Festival Director suggested that we do something together. This is the fruit of two years of collaboration. By bringing in the brilliant jazz pianist Salman Gambarov and Cemîl Qoçgirî who represents another side of Kurdish music, I wanted to put this ancient language into a new musical language. The intention was to give space for improvisation which jazz also supports. The challenge was for us to find a common ground where we could freely improvise.  I wanted Aynur to be comfortable and familiar with what she was singing and to keep to her own language. There are slight differences between Kurdish dialects. We all have specific accents depending on which region we come from, but the music is very much the same throughout, although it does take on its own flavor, ornamentation and techniques depending on each region. Aynur had previously recorded some of these songs but not with these specific arrangements. A lot of this repertoire has been lost in our Persian-speaking Kurdistan.”

Kalhor has many different visions and aspirations for creative work. “In collaborations, I always seek a balance between technique and soul. The technique needs to be there but it is primarily the means to create soulful music. The musicians whom I aspire to work with have to embody this balance.”

He believes that “art is the only meaningful thing that can hold us together.” “All these political leaders who promised change have brought disappointment,” he says, “so as people, we can just stick to art. It is all we have left. Music, literature, painting, dance, cinema, they all remind us why we are on this earth. Art is the only true and honest language. Politicians decide for people but when you travel, you realize how similar we all are and how our needs are the same. The loss of integrity in politics and press is truly shameful and politicians no longer care about public opinion. But there is always hope through the beauty of art.”

And how does Kalhor see himself fitting in the world of art? “I think of myself as a cultural worker,” he says. “Culture, politics and economics feed upon and need each other. Politics should be geared towards flourishing the economy and the culture.” But the role that Kalhor has carved for himself has its challenges.  “I often feel like I have a heavy weight upon my shoulders,” he notes. “I have always tried to represent the music of my country and not the agenda of politicians. As an Iranian musician it is hard to prove your music and identity at the same time. I have devoted my life to it and will continue to devote as much life as I have left. I hope to be part of the culture that helps change the world.”

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