Amir Amiri and his crew of talented musicians exposed concert goers last Friday to a previously unheard sonic union. The group combined Persian classical music with western styles and the world got its first taste of what is possible with a 72 string santour, a trombone, a piano, a violin, a cello, and percussion. The sounds blended beautifully and the result was greater than the sum of its parts.

Employing hybridity in music has been an increasingly popular approach. When it is executed well you get the chance to experience a unique event that adopts the best qualities of the sources utilized. In this case, we were treated to the compelling rhythms and melodies of classical Persian music along with the expressive tone of western instruments and a dash of jazz to keep things fresh.

Calgary, as a multi-cultural and diverse city, has all sorts of potential to tap into a large number of varied elements to create a cultural environment thats greater than the sum of its parts. The Tehran Project illustrates this kind of potential on a smaller scale and thanks to the range of influences that went into the music, the product is truly authentic and original. There are a number of important lessons found in the spirit of this project and I hope that this kind of cultural exchange, experimentation, exuberance, and excellence is recognized an authentic part of Calgary's art scene.