Golden Memories and Other Romantic Melodies [LP]

Tehran pianist and composer Javad Maroufi (1925-1993) is one of the great interpreters of Iranian classical music. Trained on Chopin, Mozart, Bach and Beethoven, he brought that Western grounding to the old popular melodies of Iran, and the results are reflective, delicate pieces built on soft trills and arpeggios. Rhapsodies, laments, ballads and nocturnes trace memory, loss and quiet joy, with a calm, nostalgic mood that sits close to the piano soliloquies of Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou and the twilight of Satie.

On vinyl LP from Black Sweat Records.