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http://www.bebin.tv -- Jazz siren Rana
Farhan proclaims on her web site: "Jazz is
peace." She's not just borrowing 60s flower
child rhetoric. She knows firsthand.
Born in Iran, Rana grew up listening to any
albums she could get her hands on, fostering
a love for American blues artists like
Brownie McGhee, Leadbelly, and Johnny Winter;
while rockin' to Jimmy Hendrix and Janis
Joplin. Soon she was begging her older
brother to teach her guitar and singing
through a microphone she had plugged into an
old radio in her families living room.
Rana left Iran after the religious revolution
made her artistic pursuits nearly impossible
and she soon found herself in New York City,
exploring her talents in lacquer paintings,
restoring antique furniture, and soaking in
the sounds and music of Manhattan.
Discovering a love of jazz, Farhan got hooked
after hearing a Billie Holiday record one day
while strolling through the rich cultural
district of Harlem. She decided then and
there that this is what she wanted to do.
In her first full-length CD "The Blues Are
Brewin'", Rana set her sights on American
standards, mixing jazz with blues and even a
bit of funk, making it accessible to Top 40
fans. Her delicate yet sultry voice gave each
song a sensual, earthy vibe, turning each
song into a musical swoon. Soon the album was
picked up by independent radio stations and
added to the playlists of "The Upper Room
with Joe Kelley" WVOF 88.5 FM in Fairfield
CT, "Persian Hour" KYRS 92.3 FM in Spokane
Washington, and Buenos Aires' "Goodtime Blues
Show" in Argentina.
It was her second release "I Return", a
compilation of classical Farsi (Persian)
poetry set to contemporary blues and jazz
music that really set the world on fire.
After distributing a track called "Rumi's
Prayer", based on a poem by the 13th century
Iranian poet Rumi, to her friends, the song
found it's way to the internet and the
response from both American and International
listeners was overwhelming. With a demand for
more, Farhan and her writing partner,
guitarist Steven Toub, began writing and
recording the album working off of both Rumi
and Hafez (a 14th century poet), compiling
one of the most sensitive fusions of two
distant cultures.
New York audiences, who were already caught
up in Rana's energy, and packing her
performances at Jazz clubs such as the Lenox
Lounge and Birdland, were now joined by
sold-out shows at the Cowell Theater in San
Francisco and the Glow Bar in Los Angeles.
Rana has been featured on Suzi Khatami's
"Live From Hollywood" KIRN 670 AM Los
Angeles, "Saba: Wind of Love". 90.1 FM KKFI
Kansas City Radio, dw-world.de German radio
with Shahram Ahadi, "Taraneyeh Nasorudeh"
with Farid Vahabi RFI Radio France
International, Voice of America radio Farda,
Homa Sarshar's "Khaaneh-ye doost" 670AM Los
Angeles, and Sholeh Sadr sbs radio from
Melbourne, Australia. She has also appeared
on Bebin TV in Los Angeles with Melissa
Shoshahi and Voice of America/Persian TV's
Shabahang.
In March, 2008 Rana was recognized for her
outstanding contributions in art and music by
Radio Zamaneh in Holland commemorating the
International Day of Woman.
Already looking ahead to her next album, Rana
wants to continue to reach out to more music
fans, enveloping them in the love and freedom
she's found through her music.
Jazz is peace. And love. And hope. Let Rana
show you what it sounds like.
رعنا فرحان
رعنا فرحان خواننده
جازوبلوز ایرانی مقیم
نیویورک این روزها توجه
شنوندگان و منتقدین زیادی
رابا ترکیب منحصربفردی
ازاشعارکلاسیک ایران
وموسیقی جازوبلوزامریکا
بخود جلب کرده.
جنیفرلیتون منتقد
امریکایی (از ایندی
میوزیک دات کام) صدای
اورامطلقأ زیبا، فریبنده
ومرموز توصیف میکند: صدای
این خواننده ایرانی کولاک
را آب میکند
Tags : jazz music rana farhan iranian female singer persian iranians english farsi iran band hafiz rumi |
