Reza Derakshani’s Ray of The Wine blend of Persian, Moroccan, African, Indian and Western music is at once earthy, mystical and seductive, as traditional rigor meets improvisational freedom and complex, passionate melodies couple with relentless grooves. Reza is a master of traditional Persian stringed instruments like the Tar, Sehtar and the bowed Tarmanche and Kamanche, as well as the bamboo flute known as the Ney and the Daf, a hand drum. The CD was produced by The Door’s drummer John Densmore, who also played drums, and features a stellar international ensemble of players. The group recently performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC.

• This singer, multi-instrumentalist and visual artist was born and raised in Iran but has lived in New York for more than two decades
• He has collaborated with such artists as John Densmore of The Doors, Madonna, Branford Marsalis, poet-philosopher Robert Bly, author Deepak Chopra and choreographer Bill T. Jones, among many others
• Ray of the Wine was produced by John Densmore, who also played drums, and features a stellar international ensemble of players
• A virtuoso of classical Persian music, Reza asked legendary “Doors” drummer John Densmore to arrange his music to span East and West, combining global and devotional styles with jazz, rock and other modern forms
• Ray of the Wine’s blend of Persian, Moroccan, African, Indian and Western music is at once earthy, mystical and seductive, as traditional rigor meets improvisational freedom and complex, passionate melodies couple with relentless grooves
• Reza is a master of traditional Persian stringed instruments like the Tar, Sehtar and the bowed Tarmanche and Kamanche, as well as the bamboo flute known as the Ney and the Daf, a hand drum
• He has performed for rapturous crowds in the U.S., France, Italy, the United Kingdom, Russia, Switzerland, Denmark, Canada, Iran, Morocco and the Republic of Georgia
• He composed the theme music for director Bahman Kiarostam’s highly-anticipated documentary Koffar (Infidels) and arranged the soundtrack
• He collaborated with cellist-vocalist Dawn Buckholz Avery on the acclaimed 2001 album Water From the Well, a Best Album pick from WNYC
• A gifted painter, Reza created the cover art for RAY OF THE WINE; his work hangs in galleries and private collections around the world

Notable Quotes:

“Derakshani, who played only traditional instruments, often made them wail like bluesy electric guitars… His solos occupied a demilitarized zone between the sublime and the whimsical, the sacred and the profane. Indeed, if there was an MVP here, it had to be Derakshani.” — Achy Obejas, The Chicago Tribune

“Reza Derakshani demonstrated complete mastery of his art.” — The Juilliard School Journal, N.Y.

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