© Jeff Ludivicious (photo)

Santur player, composer, and cultural inventor Amir Amiri dwells at the centre of a unique musical universe where ancient inspiration, dazzling virtuosity, and bold creativity meet. Surrounding himself with outstanding collaborators from the worlds of jazz, classical and world music, Amiri fearlessly transcends genres and borders, exquisitely transporting his ancient instrument into the musical conversations of our time. Born in Tehran, Iran, Amiri is a master of the santur, a 72-string instrument dating from approximately 500 BCE. Since arriving in Canada in 1996, Amiri has created numerous groundbreaking ensembles including the Amir Amiri Ensemble, the Ensemble Kimya, a Montreal-Paris collaboration, combining early classical and contemporary music from Europe, the Middle East and India.
a duo Moody Amiri, with violist Richard Moody, and he has also occasionally joined by his fellow master improviser, the jazz pianist Jean-Michel Pilc, in an evening of musical exploration and discovery. Amir Amiri was awarded the 2003 CBC Artist of the Year from the Galaxie Rising Stars Program.

© Jeff Ludivicious (photo)

A musician equally known for his astounding qualities as pianist and drummer, PATRICK GORAGUER also performs on Iranian santour. An extremely humble musician, he accompanies the very best musicians in Jazz, World Music to Chanson Française as well as composing and arranging music for well known films. Residing in Paris, he performs on an international level with renowned musicians such as Femi Kuti, Wasis Diop, French pop star Aurthur H to Mamanie Keita, Juliette Greco and Maxime Le Forestier. Crossing also into the jazz world he also works with saxophonist Bill Evans, George Russel or Liz McComb, Jim Black, Chris Cheek and Jean-Luc Ponty and touring europe with bassist Richard Bona and “Toto Bono Lokau.” Jazz, Afro Beat, Funk, World Music, producing and arranging film music are some of the many diverse circles which keep Patrick Goraguer a highly solicited musician

© Jeff Ludivicious (photo)

Based in Paris France since 2002, Canadian bassist CHRIS JENNINGS was chosen alongside Christian McBride & Vincent Archer as ‘Best of the Year 2023/24,’ foreign double bassist by France’s main “JazzMagasine/JazzNews”. He has established himself with the Dhafer Youssef Quartet with Tigran Hamasyan and Mark Guiliana, with many bands of guitarist Nguyên Lê including his current “Silk & Sand” Trio with percussionist Rhani Krija, “Streams Quartet,” a quartet with Rita Marcotulli, Danny Gottlieb, ou Karim Ziad and Bojan Z as well as with Turkish ney master Kudsi Ergüner and well known Kurdish. He is bassist in the Joachim Kühn "New Trio”, also with renowned Kurdish singer Aynur Dogan, the 'El Gusto' Algerian traditional Chaabi orchestra, the Gregory Privat Trio, the Titi Robin "Nargis”, the David Linx Quartet and the Céline Bonacina Quartet featuring Rachel Eckroth & John Hadfield, and her quartet with Gwilym Simcock, & her FlyFly Trio. "Drum'n Koto," his 7th album as a leader in trio with Japanese koto player Mieko Miyazaki & Patrick Goraguer on drums & Iranian santour was "Disc of the Month" by JazzNews Magazine France. His next album CHRIS JENNINGS’ 5 Ways Home “Boy She’s a Dandy” will be released in Spring 2024 with Patrick Goraguer, Kalle Karim, Eric Schaefer, Hayden Chisholm and guest vocalist Rachel Eckroth.