Golestan

‘Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay area,’ Elana Sasson is a vocalist and saz player of Iranian and Kurdish descent. With her latest venture, Sasson reinvents the folkloric songs of Iran and Mesopotamia with the accompaniment of a small chamber ensemble. The orchestration is largely Western classical in texture, consisting of woodwinds, strings and assorted percussion, with each instrumentalist sensitively evoking the inflections of near-eastern melodies. The songs are impeccably arranged, with Sasson’s voice proving to be an arrestingly beautiful focus throughout. An element of light jazz is introduced in certain pieces, allowing space for instrumental improvisation, and a distinctly Latin-infused groove runs through several of the tunes. ‘Shaypor Chee’ ends the album with the most delicate yet ambitious arrangement, with impressionistic piano and sparse cello harmonics setting a plaintive mood before the introduction of Sasson’s voice. Golestan is an accessible reimagining of Iranian folksongs, delivered with utmost skill and care.