Ziya Tabassian
Ziya Tabassian has been enchanted by music since the age of 11 when he began to explore the captivating world of the Tombak, a principal percussion instrument in classical Iranian music. Initially self-taught, he began to master his technique following the method of Master Tehrani. From 1994 to 2001, Ziya studied western classical percussion in Montreal with Julien Grégoire and obtained a Bachelors in Interpretation from the University of Montreal. Soon after, he devoted his time in Iran perfecting his techniques with guidance from Maestro Bahman Rajabi, and later on completed a residency at the Banff Centre for the Arts with the purpose of exploring the contemporary repertoire of the Tombak.
Ziya Tabassian has played in several early, contemporary and world music ensembles, and is also an active co-founding member of Constantinople, (Middle Age and Renaissance music) touring concerts in Canada, the United States, Mexico and Europe. As a soloist, he has been in the spotlight throughout Montreal and Ottawa as well as at the Rencontre internationale de percussion de Tunis. Presently he is working with ceramic artist Marie A. Coté on an installation and performance project.
Having received several grants from the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Quebec as well as from the Canada Council for the Arts, he has released a number of albums of which seven are with the Constantinople Ensemble under the Atma label as well as two duo ensemble discs with his brother Kiya Tabassian. He has also collaborated in recordings with the Kronos Quartet, the Nouvel Ensemble Moderne, Hossein Omoumi, En Chordais and Lo'Jo. His first solo album, inspired by his recent years studying rhythmic cycles and sounds of ancient Persian music, has just been released under the Ambiances Magnetiques label.
Photos
Photo by Jose-Luis Castillo
