TEHRAN -- Iranian musician Tahmures Purnazeri and renowned Indian composer and sitar player Shujaat Husain Khan are collaborating on a joint album.

“Master Shujaat Husain Khan is an Indian sitar virtuoso and this partnership will provide a profound opportunity for music,” U.S.-based Iranian musician Tahmures Purnazeri told the Tehran Times in an internet interview.
Purnazeri said that he is interested in experiencing something new in music and he considers his collaboration with Shujaat Husain Khan as such.
The album will feature a fusion of Iranian and Indian improvisations.
They are currently rehearsing for the album, which will be recorded in a collaborative effort by Fantasy Studios in California and Mystic World Music, the organizer of Purnazeri’s concerts.
Purnazeri said that Iranian and Indian vocalists are scheduled to sing for the album. However he declined to name the specific singers.
He said that perhaps he will use less Iranian percussion in the instrumentation for the work.
A virtuoso tar, setar, and barbat player Purnazeri has previously performed concerts and recorded many albums with the Shams Ensemble, which is led by his father Keikhosro.
In April, Purnazeri and Shams singer Farshad Jamali performed concerts apart from the ensemble at Tehran’s Milad Tower.
The collaboration on the untitled album began following Purnazeri’s proposal of the concept to Shujaat Husain Khan.
Purnazeri said that Husain Khan was previously acquainted with his works.
“When he heard about my intention to begin work on this project, he accepted my offer to join in on it because of his previous acquaintance with my works,” he said.
Iranian kamanche virtuoso Keyhan Kalhor and Husain Khan have previously worked together on the four albums “Ghazal 1”, “Ghazal 2”, “Ghazal 3”, and “The Rain”.
Photo: Tahmures Purnazeri (L) and Shujaat Husain Khan in an undated photo in the United Sates of America