Maestro Motebassem returns to Toronto after 10 years with his ensemble, Damsaz. The Iranian composer, tar and setar player will perform with Samira Golbaz, his partner, a talented tar and setar player in her own right, alongside Montreal-based percussionist Ziya Tabassian. “Damsaz”, which means familiar, harmonious or sharing the same path, honours their ongoing and extended musical collaboration. Together they will present exceptional traditional music from Iran demonstrating their synergies as world-class performers.
With over 40 years of experience, Hamid Motebassem has performed over 1,500 shows worldwide. He has numerous recordings, including an album with Shahram Nazeri and a new solo album Radif-e Afshari –Setar, released this year. He is the founder of the Society of Tar and Setar and is one of the original members of the Aref Ensemble. He also founded Dastan Ensemble, Ensemble Chakavak, Mezrab and Pardis. Born in Mashhad, Iran, he was raised in a musical family where his first teacher was his father, Ali Motebassem, who played the tar. Subsequent teachers included the masters Habiballah Salehi, Zeydallah Toloie, Houshang Zarif, Hossein Alizadeh and Mohammad Reza Lotfi. Motebassem studied at the Tehran School of Art and the Conservatory of Persian Music.
Samira Golbaz has performed internationally and is a collaborator with Torgheh, Sarv-e-azad and Mezrab, as well as with Hamid Motebassem. With Montebassem she recorded Damsaz Duo, released in 2020, and in the brand new single “Ava-ye Roshanai”. She studied with Ataollah Jangook, Hamid Sokouti, Bahram Jamali, Alireza Rastinfar, Masoud Shaari and Hamid Motebassem. Holding a BA in music from Sooreh University and an M.A. in Art-Research from the Islamic Azad University, Golbaz is also a music writer.
Renowned for his virtuosity and innovative approach to percussion, Ziya Tabassian, began his musical odyssey at ten, immersing himself in the resonant beats of the tombak in Iran. His journey continued in Quebec where he melded classical Western percussion with his Eastern roots, studying with Julien Grégoire and earning a Bachelor's degree in interpretation from the Université de Montréal. A transformative residency at The Banff Center led to his blending of Iranian percussion with contemporary influences, which defines his distinctive sound. His versatility shines through in collaborations including his performances with Trio Regard Persan and Ensemble Caprice.
