Meet the Lumière Dreamers: Ali Razmi Persian Jazz Ensemble
Saina Khaledi - Santoor
Ali Sajjadi - Oud
Kenton Loewen - Drums
Ali Razmi - Tar and vocals
The art of improvisation makes a bridge between different kinds of music naturally. Ali Razmi Persian Jazz Ensemble is seeking different spaces by mixing elements of Jazz, folk, and traditional Persian music together.
Ali Razmi is a gifted Tar & Setar player who got his Master Degree in music from The Art University Of Tehran in 2006. Since his arrival to Canada in 2007 he is a roster member of the Vancouver Intercultural Orchestra and has done workshops and concerts with well known musicians from all around the world.
Saina Khaledi was the winner of the Iranian Santour Festival in 2003. Saina received her diploma from Iran’s most prestigious music school, the Tehran Music Conservatoire. She continued her studies and graduated in Music (Bachelors of Arts) from the Tehran Music University in 2007 at which point she studied with Masters: Mr. Nasrollah Khaledi, Mrs. Soosan Aslani (Dehlavi), and Mrs. Arfa Atraei.
Saina has performed in Iran, Austria, Japan, Netherlands, USA and Canada often as a composer, soloist or with groups such as Music On Main, Vashaan Ensemble, Vancouver Intercultural Orchestra (VICO), BC Chinese Music Ensemble (BCCME), Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO), Medusa Society, National Orchestra of Iran Conservatoire, Mellal Orchestra and Hamnavazan Ensemble. She also took part in different music productions and recordings. currently teaches Santour at Capilano University, Persian Culture and art institute (Percai) as well as private lessons.
Ali Sajjadi is an Iranian-Canadian Oud player based in Vancouver BC. He studied Setar and Radif with Masoud Shaari and continued his training on the Oud with masters, Hossein Behroozinia and Arsalan Kamkar.
Collaborations with CBC Music, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Iranian national art institute Symphony Orchestra, live performances, music tours and recordings with great musicians worldwide. He published a book “10 pieces for Barbat”, for advanced Barbat and Oud players. His passion is bridging cultures through music.
Juno award winning Kenton Loewen is an accomplished drummer and singer/ songwriter from Vancouver British Columbia. Alumni of VCC, his scope of work encompasses and crosses through experimental, modern, post bop and free jazz, folk, country, punk, Hip Hop, Arabic, Persian, African and rock music. His band The Crackling was his focus for songwriting where he plays guitar and sings. He has since started working under his own name looking forward to a Fall 2022 release. He has worked with local music legend Gordon Grdina in many projects including the avant guard Arabic 10 piece Haram, modern jazz project Grdina/ Houle/ Loewen, the experimental boundary defying Gordon Grdina Trio and the Juno nominated free punk rock duo Peregrine Falls. He was also an original member of Dan Mangan + Blacksmith and Mother Mother.