Hen House Studios presents an extraordinary fusion of Persian classical music, jazz, rock, and global rhythms from internationally acclaimed musician and visual artist Reza Derakshani.
VENICE, CA — Hen House Studios presents Ray of the Wine, an evocative musical collaboration between Iranian-born virtuoso Reza Derakshani and legendary Doors drummer John Densmore. Produced by Densmore, who also performs on drums, the album brings together an international ensemble of musicians to create a captivating musical journey that transcends cultural and stylistic boundaries.
A master of classical Persian music, Derakshani combines centuries-old musical traditions with the improvisational spirit of jazz, the energy of rock, and the rhythmic influences of Morocco, Africa, and India. The result is a richly textured collection of compositions that is at once earthy, mystical, and deeply contemporary.
Born and raised in Iran, Derakshani spent more than two decades in New York, developing an artistic voice that moves effortlessly between music and visual art. An accomplished singer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist, he performs on traditional Persian instruments including the tar, sehtar, kamancheh, ney, and daf.
For Ray of the Wine, Derakshani enlisted Densmore to help arrange his compositions, creating a dialogue between Eastern musical traditions and Western contemporary sounds. The collaboration combines intricate Persian melodies, devotional influences, adventurous improvisation, and driving percussion into a distinctive musical experience.
Derakshani's remarkable career includes collaborations with an eclectic range of artists and cultural figures, among them Madonna, Branford Marsalis, poet Robert Bly, author Deepak Chopra, and choreographer Bill T. Jones. He also composed the theme music and arranged the soundtrack for filmmaker Bahman Kiarostami's documentary Koffar (Infidels).
His previous collaboration with cellist and vocalist Dawn Buckholz Avery, Water From the Well (2001), was recognized by New York public radio station WNYC as a Best Album selection.
Derakshani is equally accomplished as a painter, with works exhibited in galleries and held in private collections internationally. He created the original cover artwork for Ray of the Wine, extending his distinctive artistic vision beyond the music itself.
Critics have praised Derakshani's extraordinary command of traditional instruments and his ability to bring ancient musical forms into unexpected contemporary settings. Writing in The Chicago Tribune, Achy Obejas observed that his traditional instruments could sound like "bluesy electric guitars," while The Juilliard School Journal praised his "complete mastery of his art."
With Ray of the Wine, Reza Derakshani and John Densmore offer a compelling meeting of musical worlds, demonstrating how ancient traditions and contemporary experimentation can coexist in a singular artistic expression.
Hen House Studios presents an extraordinary fusion of Persian classical music, jazz, rock, and global rhythms from internationally acclaimed musician and visual artist Reza Derakshani.
VENICE, CA — Hen House Studios presents Ray of the Wine, an evocative musical collaboration between Iranian-born virtuoso Reza Derakshani and legendary Doors drummer John Densmore. Produced by Densmore, who also performs on drums, the album brings together an international ensemble of musicians to create a captivating musical journey that transcends cultural and stylistic boundaries.
A master of classical Persian music, Derakshani combines centuries-old musical traditions with the improvisational spirit of jazz, the energy of rock, and the rhythmic influences of Morocco, Africa, and India. The result is a richly textured collection of compositions that is at once earthy, mystical, and deeply contemporary.
Born and raised in Iran, Derakshani spent more than two decades in New York, developing an artistic voice that moves effortlessly between music and visual art. An accomplished singer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist, he performs on traditional Persian instruments including the tar, sehtar, kamancheh, ney, and daf.
For Ray of the Wine, Derakshani enlisted Densmore to help arrange his compositions, creating a dialogue between Eastern musical traditions and Western contemporary sounds. The collaboration combines intricate Persian melodies, devotional influences, adventurous improvisation, and driving percussion into a distinctive musical experience.
Derakshani's remarkable career includes collaborations with an eclectic range of artists and cultural figures, among them Madonna, Branford Marsalis, poet Robert Bly, author Deepak Chopra, and choreographer Bill T. Jones. He also composed the theme music and arranged the soundtrack for filmmaker Bahman Kiarostami's documentary Koffar (Infidels).
His previous collaboration with cellist and vocalist Dawn Buckholz Avery, Water From the Well (2001), was recognized by New York public radio station WNYC as a Best Album selection.
Derakshani is equally accomplished as a painter, with works exhibited in galleries and held in private collections internationally. He created the original cover artwork for Ray of the Wine, extending his distinctive artistic vision beyond the music itself.
Critics have praised Derakshani's extraordinary command of traditional instruments and his ability to bring ancient musical forms into unexpected contemporary settings. Writing in The Chicago Tribune, Achy Obejas observed that his traditional instruments could sound like "bluesy electric guitars," while The Juilliard School Journal praised his "complete mastery of his art."
With Ray of the Wine, Reza Derakshani and John Densmore offer a compelling meeting of musical worlds, demonstrating how ancient traditions and contemporary experimentation can coexist in a singular artistic expression.
