Elana Sasson Quartet: release “in between” feat. Oud Master, Ara Dinkjian
Elana Sasson Quartet by Charlie Requeni
Elana Sasson Quartet has just released 'in between' a new single via PK Musik. The single is a new version of the title track of the quartet’s debut album and has been reworked by Sasson to focus on space, interaction and restraint rather than rebuilding around the original arrangement.
This version of 'in between' is the third single from Elana Sasson’s debut album with the Elana Sasson Quartet, an ensemble based in Valencia who take inspiration from Kurdish, Persian, and Mediterranean roots and traditions, in which the title track, is beautifully re-arranged, reimagined and performed by the quartet with help from Armenian-American oud player Ara Dinkjian.
Throughout the recording, Elana Sasson’s vocal performance is interwoven with the oud, piano, bass and drums of the rest of the quartet to create a sense of natural interaction and dialogue. A really interesting reimagining of the original.
Ara Dinkjian the Armenian-American oud player and composer of The Project, Dinkjian is known and respected internationally. Sasson’s great pleasure in working with him on this track stems from her admiration of his work, as well as a sense of recognition of aspects of her own identity in the traditions that he draws upon in his music. And the music that the two have created here is warm and deeply melodic, in every way befitting of a collaboration of this nature.
This version of 'in between' is the third single from Elana Sasson’s debut album with the Elana Sasson Quartet, an ensemble based in Valencia who take inspiration from Kurdish, Persian, and Mediterranean roots and traditions, in which the title track, is beautifully re-arranged, reimagined and performed by the quartet with help from Armenian-American oud player Ara Dinkjian.
Throughout the recording, Elana Sasson’s vocal performance is interwoven with the oud, piano, bass and drums of the rest of the quartet to create a sense of natural interaction and dialogue. A really interesting reimagining of the original.
Ara Dinkjian the Armenian-American oud player and composer of The Project, Dinkjian is known and respected internationally. Sasson’s great pleasure in working with him on this track stems from her admiration of his work, as well as a sense of recognition of aspects of her own identity in the traditions that he draws upon in his music. And the music that the two have created here is warm and deeply melodic, in every way befitting of a collaboration of this nature.
Oud Master Ara Dinkjian (photo courtesy of artist)
The quartet have really connected, and you can hear that in the way they play together on this record. The piano/Rhodes arrangements of Santiago Bertel create movement while, Manos Stratis and Victor Goldschmidt deliver a rhythm section that supports the vocals and guitar perfectly.
The single was recorded at Jazz Tone Studios in Valencia and mixed and mastered in Athens. Despite being a single, the recording has the intimacy of a live performance, something that really makes it stand out.
Elana Sasson and her quartet have created a beautiful, well rounded piece of music, full of emotion and more importantly, a record that you will want to hear over and over.
The single was recorded at Jazz Tone Studios in Valencia and mixed and mastered in Athens. Despite being a single, the recording has the intimacy of a live performance, something that really makes it stand out.
Elana Sasson and her quartet have created a beautiful, well rounded piece of music, full of emotion and more importantly, a record that you will want to hear over and over.