Presented by Small World Music

From our Incubator Program to Centre Stage!

Join us for a double-bill performance as farisa and Saffron Tea combine their fresh sounds and new artistic perspectives to grace the city’s music scene.

About the Artists:
farisa
farisa is the new pop project of isa farah, a heart-forward cellist and vocalist whose work embraces the fluidity of in-betweenness. Rooted in trans embodiment and ancestral fire, her music is devotional and emotionally charged, conjuring longing, rupture, and repair. farisa’s sound draws from experimental pop, Iranian music, and neo-soul to weave intimate vocals, intuitive improvisation, and layered groove. They build sonic worlds that hold grief and celebration in the same breath, inviting collective feeling that is as raw as it is reverent. Each song traces its own terrain of harm, tenderness, and self-actualization, composed with emotional precision and a deep commitment to naming what’s left unsaid.

This debut performance introduces the full band, featuring isa alongside dear collaborators Chris Pruden (keys/samples) and Kimia Sheidaei (flutes/vocals), where they will unravel melodic structure, contrast soulful harmony with dissonance and microtonality, and stretch pop form toward the unexpected.

Saffron-Tea
Through a performance that invites the audience into a rich musical experience that bridges Persian tradition and contemporary jazz, Saffron-Tea presents an unforgettable experience. Their music blends experimental microtonal harmonies with expressive improvisation and dynamic rhythms that will take you through an emotional and vibrant journey. With innovative arrangements of Iranian songs and original compositions, Iranian listeners will hear familiar melodies in a new light, while non-Iranians can explore the evolving sound of persian jazz in a way that is both, unexpected and deeply moving.

Saffron-Tea is a Toronto-based ensemble led by jazz guitarist and composer Behzad Danesh, dedicated to re-imagining Persian jazz through innovative explorations. Behzad is a Jazz guitarist, composer and producer who is currently exploring both microtonal and middle eastern music. He is in the lookout for a nice rich blend between these, staying true to his love to push boundaries, go to unfamiliar places, be outside sometimes, respect the traditions, as well as being open to new possibilities.

Doors open at 7:30 PM

The 2025 Small World Music Series is sponsored by TD Bank Group through the TD Ready Commitment and funded by the Government of Canada, Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, and the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council.