What happens when one blends exquisite Persian verses from masters like Rumi, Hafez, or Omar Khayyam to the rhythm and sultry sounds of American jazz, blues, and soul? Pure magic; and that is where Rana Farhan comes in. As the featured artist on November 16th, at the second concert of the newly formed partnership between Greenwich House Music School and Caffe Vivaldi, Farhan did not disappoint.
Seamlessly moving back and forth from English to Farsi, Farhan told the crowd, “I’ve been in love with the blues for forever,” before singing the great poet Rumi’s Whispers of the Beloved on a chilled Saturday evening in November. She reminisced, “Billie Holiday, Leadbelly, Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, Odetta, their voices carried a story within them and made a huge impact on my life. I had to get my hands on as many of their albums as possible when growing up in Iran.”
Upon graduating from Tehran University, Farhan left Iran and eventually made her way to New York where she found that “music overwhelmed” her. It was in New York that she began to contemplate how to find a way to integrate Persian poetry and the blues. Then, as fate would have it, one afternoon, Farhan’s guitarist and producer, Steven Toub, began playing a blues riff and Rumi’s book was in eyesight for Farhan to take a stab at singing Rumi’s Prayer. To their pleasant surprise, it worked, and almost ten years and three albums later, Farhan is seen as a trailblazer in the underground Iranian music scene.
Farhan entertained the crowd in the intimate Renee Weiler concert hall at Greenwich House Music School with jazz infused poems such as Rumi’s Prayer, Caravan, Slave to the Moment, and of course, paid homage to her blues inspiration, Billie Holiday, by singing Fine and Mellow. Establishing a unique niche in the jazz arena, Farhan has undoubtedly created a rich and delicious blend that leaves the imagination longing for more.
With the success of the first two performances of the Caffe Vivaldi at the Renee Weiler, the partnership between Vivaldi and Greenwich House Music School is a sign to many that the best is yet to come. Caffe Vivali has been a cultural institution for New Yorkers and visitors from all over the world, for more than 30 years. Founded by Ishrat Ansari, Vivaldi features live music seven days a week and has played host to talent across the art world, including Andy Warhol, Al Pacino, Woody Allen, Bette Midler, Ethan Hawke, Marcus Mumford, John Cusack, and Joseph Brodsky. The partnership between the Music School and Vivaldi began in response to the venue’s growing need for a bigger space than the current 50-seat restaurant. By partnering with Greenwich House Music School, Ansari has been able to feature artists with a larger fan base, satisfying many more music lovers, while retaining the original intimate spirit of the Caffe. “Greenwich House Music School is a perfect partner as we work together to keep live music performances relevant in the West Village, and Rana’s performance tonight is a leading example of this,” Ansari said.
Check in with Caffe Vivaldi or Greenwich House Music School for future gigs that will inspire.