Shems Bendali Quintet - Tabriz (2022)

In Tabriz, the second recording opus produced by Shems Bendali, the young trumpet player
embarks on a journey back to the origins of his first name: “Shems-Eddine”. According to the
family legend, the meaningful name was revealed to his father in a dream in which “Shams ad Dîn
Tabrizi” made a soulful apparition. The Persian philosopher and poet is renowned for his spiritual
connection with the great Sufi master Djalal Dîn Rümi. The two wise men are said to have met in
Konya where they decided never to part again. Rümi went on to refer to Shams in poems that would
go on to enlighten the Sufi Muslim culture for centuries.
In this new album, the trumpeter explores the widespread ramifications of his father’s dream as well
as the depth of the relationship between Shams and Rümi. The music will guide you through
tableaux and landscapes featuring the marketplace of Konya or the city of Tabriz, but will also take
you on a voyage within the mysteries of the bond linking a master and his celestial spirit.
A collaborative approach is at the core of the working process of the Shems Bendali Quintet and as
such, Arthur Donnot’s creativity enhances the diverse colors of the album with three new
compositions exploring the outcomes of family ties through time.