Vancouver on Fire

A couple of weeks ago, my friend Babak Khiavchi sent me information about a remarkable multimedia project by Kooch Band in Vancouver, B.C. I was delighted when I finally got a chance to talk to composer and conductor Roham Behmanesh about his ambitious project, a musical rendition of Nader Ebrahimi’s beloved novel, Fire Without Smoke, or Atash-e bedoon-e dood. The project has been in the works for the past two years and has involved several top-notch musicians and vocalists, a celebrated illustrator, and an accomplished poet. Those who have the good fortune of seeing this show on stage in Vancouver are in for a magnificent and very unique treat. The show will be staged on Saturday, May 7, 2011, from 7:30 to 10:00 p.m., at: Centennial Theater, 2300 Landsdale Avenue, North Vancouver, (phone: 604-986-4086). Here’s my interview with Roham Behmanesh and a look at the band’s rehearsals as they get ready for the Saturday performance. Kooch Band’s Facebook page.