Art and Social Change

FROM PAYAM ENTERTAINMENT -

Mohsen Namjoo and his ensemble performed a musical tour de force of his newest creations last Saturday, April 28 at the Wheeler Hall, UC Berkeley. The performance at was being recorded live in preparation for an upcoming double-album release later this year.

Thirteen/Eight included a first set of Jazz fusion renditions of Namjoo’s new compositions. A performance that took the full-house at the Wheeler Hall by storm. James Riotto (Bass), Rob Shelton (Keyboards) and Ezra Lipp (Drums) accompanied Namjoo in a memorable journey crossing paths between classical Persian traditions and modern American Jazz.

The second set comprised of an innovative solo performance titled “The Japanese Chahar-mezrab” and continued with a series of duets with long-time Namjoo band member Siamack Sanaei on classical guitar.

The audience’s enthusiasm overwhelmed Namjoo and he performed two solo encores of his own favorite song, Sanama, and everyone’s all time favorite solo, Ey Sareban. Namjoo finally called his full ensemble to perform the final track well past the scheduled end of the concert.

Mohsen Namjoo’s next stop will be in Los Angeles on Sunday May 20 at the Orpheum Theatre where he will perform with his Thirteen/Eight ensemble and a surprise guest musician from Los Angeles. Tickets for Thirteen/Eight in Los Angeles are available at ticketmaster.com, Music Box in Los Angeles and Wholesome Choice Market in Irvine.