Album: Shahkilid, Nedaye Asemani (Muziekpublique)

The title of this CD means "divine whisper", but it also refers to Neda, the young woman shot during the 2009 protests in Tehran.

Shahkilid's ode to freedom is boldly improvisational, and comprises four players – on the tombak drum, tar lute, ney flute, and cello. And if you think the cello is an odd addition, just listen to the first track, in which a Bach partita segues gracefully into a truly Persian sound. The artistry here is very refined, its spirit absolutely true to the ancient tradition.