Amir ElSaffar, Hafez Modirzadeh - Radif Suite (2010)

Amir ElSaffar and Hafez Modirzadeh explore the intersections of jazz and the classical musical systems of the Middle East in their album Radif Suite. Drawing on Iraqi and Persian traditions, the composers create a unique sonic language where microtonality and fluid rhythm merge with jazz improvisation and swing. The work is built upon a rejection of standard Western temperament in favor of a more natural and resonant sonic spectrum.

The project combines two suites in which traditional Eastern forms are transformed through the influence of the modern avant-garde. The performers' mastery allows them to seamlessly weave ancient ornaments into the fabric of jazz interaction. This exploration not only expands the boundaries of the genre but also offers a new grammar for composition, where cultural heritage serves as a foundation for radical innovation.

Amir ElSaffar: trumpet; vocal
Hafez Modirzadeh: tenor saxophone
Mark Dresser: bass
Alex Cline: drums; gongs

Tracklist:
1-1 Amir ElSaffar, Hafez Modirzadeh - Facet One [2:34]
1-2 Amir ElSaffar, Hafez Modirzadeh - Facet Two [2:39]
1-3 Amir ElSaffar, Hafez Modirzadeh - Facets Three/Four [3:22]
1-4 Amir ElSaffar, Hafez Modirzadeh - Facets Five/Six [4:48]
1-5 Amir ElSaffar, Hafez Modirzadeh - Facets Seven/Eight [5:42]
1-6 Amir ElSaffar, Hafez Modirzadeh - Facet Nine [1:48]
1-7 Amir ElSaffar, Hafez Modirzadeh - Facet Ten [5:49]
1-8 Amir ElSaffar, Hafez Modirzadeh - Facets Eleven/Twelve [3:54]
1-9 Amir ElSaffar, Hafez Modirzadeh - Introduction: Copper Refraction [2:24]
1-10 Amir ElSaffar, Hafez Modirzadeh - Post- Idiomatic Blues/Cells A [7:33]
1-11 Amir ElSaffar, Hafez Modirzadeh - Doves Over Zion (Dream of the Beloved)/Duet Interlude [5:19]
1-12 Amir ElSaffar, Hafez Modirzadeh - Uganda/Trio Interlude [4:39]
1-13 Amir ElSaffar, Hafez Modirzadeh - Bird of Prey [3:43]
1-14 Amir ElSaffar, Hafez Modirzadeh - Awj/Ancestral Memory [5:08]
1-15 Amir ElSaffar, Hafez Modirzadeh - 7 Quintuplets/Triptych/Bass Solo [5:23]
1-16 Amir ElSaffar, Hafez Modirzadeh - All Said and Done/Sirens/Reverence [4:32]