The east coast has been a veritable hotbed of scintillating jazz this year. Across the broad spectrum of the genre, we’ve been seeing artful works of fusion and soothing, traditional sounds. And now Behrooz Mihankhah, an Iranian-born and Halifax-based pianist, is unveiling a piece that weaves his distinct musical heritage into hallmarks of jazz beautifully. Mihankhah’s “Lydium” is nothing short of tantalizing, and is a reminder of jazz’s impactful malleability.
“Lydium,” so titled for its basis in the Lydian scales, is the title track of Mihankhah’s forthcoming album. If this track is any indicator of what we have to look forward to, it is sure to be a striking affair. The concept is inspired by the musician’s experience migrating from Iran, to India, to Canada. And the cultural identity he has channeled into the concept speaks volumes in this lead single.
“Lydium” is a dynamic whirl of expressive instrumental voices. From the get-go, we hear familiar jazz instrumentation, but there is a distinct sound that might make a listener do a double-take pinning down what they just heard. Mihankhah utilizes the Iranian tar, a long-necked instrument of the lute family, to great effect. The tar parts are an extremely strong pairing with the piano, striking synonymous resonance and in a sense amplifying and deepening the notes in a unique way.
The journey of the song is extremely evocative and cinematic. With its transportive and welcoming pleasantries at the opening, it moves along into an understated grandeur that gives way to more familiarly soulful expressions of jazz, before finishing with a dramatic flare in the final movements. Alongside the traditional jazz instrumentation and Iranian influences, vivid and volatile guitar work infuses “Lydium” with fusion energy.
What truly drives “Lydium” is Mihankhah’s skills as a pianist though. He exhibits a vast spectrum of roles with his skill. At times he serves as forging the underpinning weight to soaring melodies and at others the whirling wheels that drive the phrases forward, and most noteworthy when he shines as the brilliant, twinkling centerpiece of the arrangement. As both a composer and musician, he makes a strong impression.
“Lydium” is an exciting showing by Behrooz Mihankhah. Soulful and inviting, familiar and fresh, it takes so many of the elements that make for great jazz and underlines them with the artist’s distinct character. This stirring presentation of his unique musical fingerprint builds up a hopeful expectation of what’s to come on the album proper.
Behrooz Mihankhah’s upcoming album is set to be released on October 16, 2021.