Supported by TD Bank

Small World Music and TD Canada celebrate Persian New Year with Nowruz Beat! Join us at the Small World Centre for an evening of great music as we welcome the Spring season!

Friday March 25, 8:00 pm EDT/ Doors 7pm EDT
Small World Centre, 180 Shaw St.
Tickets: $30

Nowruz Beat is an energetic celebration and a soulful reflection on the coming of spring in a year of hope. Ranging from traditional to modern, the evening features singer Saba Zameni and Hossein Soleimani on kamancheh and vocals, backed by the ‘beatmap’ trio. The evening also features the trio of Padideh Ahrarnejad, Ali Massoudi and Nazanin Pedarsani on tar and percussion.

Saba Zameni is an exciting new addition to Toronto’s global music scene. A multi-talented performer, she has a reputation as a versatile singer as well as a dancer. As comfortable in Persian traditional music as she is in contemporary jazz, Saba’s progressive approach has won fans internationally over the course of 15+ years in music. With a voice capable of great beauty and power, she has performed in ensembles ranging from ceremonial bands to folk and gypsy jazz bands and has been backup singer for Mohsen Namjoo.

Tehran-born Hossein Soleimani is highly regarded as a band leader, composer, kamancheh player and singer in Iran and increasingly, in his new home of Toronto. Since arriving in 2019, Soleimani quickly immersed himself in the local scene, performing at Sofar Sounds events and with his fusion project, The Path, which debuted in early 2020. His nuanced playing, both delicate and soaring along with vocals make for a powerful combination.

For two decades 'beatmap' has explored the intersection of a diverse range of musical forms. The group's sound draws on deep roots in funk, rock and jazz, merged with Latin, African and Arabic rhythms, Persian traditions and electronica. The band is excited to work with emerging artists looking for musical support. The trio features drummer Alan Davis, Neil Gardiner on keyboards and accordion, and Sina Momtahan on oud, bass and more.

Padideh Ahrarnejad is an award-winning tar player, composer, and educator who has brought Persian music across Europe, the Middle East, North America and Asia. A graduate of the Tehran Art Music School, she studied tar with major figures of Persian music. Emigrating to Toronto in 2016, she is a member of Kuné, 'Canada’s Global Orchestra’.

Multi-percussionist and music educator Ali Massoudi has authored five publications, including the highly respected methods for Tombak, Daf, and Udu, inspiring students around the world. He has had the opportunity to work with many famous musical ensembles and orchestras, including theTehran Symphony.

Nazanin Pedarsani plays tombak, daf and tar and was an award winner at the Young Soloists Festival of Iran. She has performed in concerts there and in Europe as well as here in Canada

Presented as a part of 25 for 25 - Small World Music's 25th Anniversary Program