Safa

by Bradley TorreanoBlending all sorts of musical traditions together, from Asian pop to Latin percussion to American improvisational jazz, Safa is a unique and distinctive trio that uses its members' various heritages to its advantage. Tehran-born Amir Koushkani contributes vocals, setar, and tar to the band and has had a successful career outside of the group. Canadian Francois Houle brings jazz experience to the fray with his intense clarinet playing, while the Puerto Rican born Sal Ferreras offers countless percussion instruments and a knowledge of avant garde jazz and Latin-American folk. Together, they make a heady blend of structured improvisation and moody soundscapes that are hard to compare to anything. Their debut album, Alight, appeared in the summer of 2002.