Chromatic Santour: Kourosh Zolani

Kourosh Zolani

[View the story "Chromatic Santour: Kourosh Zolani and his unique instrument of peace" on Storify]

In my musical travels I met a extraordinary man named Kourosh Zolani who grew up in a small village in Iran and chose to bring the native Santur into the modern chromatic scale, bringing traditional Persian music into modern places. Go see him in Los Angeles if you get a chance!

He has 3 free shows and demonstrations of the Chromatic Santour coming up in LA:

Saturday, April 27, 2013
Venice Library – 4:00PM

Saturday, May 18, 2013
Brentwood Library – 3:00PM

Saturday, July 20, 2013
Palisades Library – 3:00PM

Here’s a demo of how the Behrad Zolani Santour instrument works, and a composition of Kourosh’s youthful inspiration gives a sense of his Persian roots.

In Russia they write songs about it…

Amoration now has an anthem Check out these clips to see Round Hills from Russia in action!

текст песни Round Hills – Amoration

Lyrics:
In My Head I Have Found Dryness
And I Do Not Want To Shout
I’m Afraid Of Hearing Truth
It Is Really Terrible

I Have Skills In Meditation
But It’s Only Self-belief
I Need What I Have Achieved
Then My World Becomes Real

When Amoration Will Be A Norm
When Amoration Will Open The Door
When I At Last Become Very Wise
I’ll Be Able To Prove It All, It Will Be A Surprise

Whose Ideals Are Closer To Me?
That I Want To Understand
But Who Will Help Me This Time?
I Think Nobody Would Agree

Everyone Can See The Future
But Don’t Forget The Main Thing
Just Ask Yourself If You Want It
‘Cause You May Not Like It

When Amoration Will Be A Norm
When Amoration Will Open The Door
When I At Last Become Very Wise
I’ll Be Able To Prove It All, It Will Be A Surprise

Berzerk!

For great photos of the Cirque Berzerk shows here in LA visit:

http://pixievisionproductions.com

http://www.flickr.com/photos/amoration

http://www.latimes.com/theguide/events-and-festivals/la-gd-events24-2008jul24,0,475023.story

Deeply proud of our AMO friends for putting together one of the best shows we’ve seen under the big top! Tremendous work, all of you….beautiful.

killing the desire for pain

perhaps i am possessed
running around in circles
until the ground wears away
around my tired ankles

this is no life for a lover
of graceful tree branches
and singing brooks

somewhere there is space
for contemplation
imagination
rejuvenation

my lost inspiration
found somewhere inside
the unexpected self

20034

Look at the sunrise. Hear the birds singing their delight. A new day has dawned, a new beginning. The fires of yesterday are now ashes, your bridges are burned.

You are a new creation.

Live fully, joyously savoring every moment.
Feel the wind on bare skin.
Let the sunshine thaw your icy fingers.
Smell luscious life blooming from the squirming earth.
Taste fruit and wine and lush green health as you take it all in.
Make love with the trees, the water, the sky.
Make music and art every moment of every day.

CONNECT. The vast kosmos wants to play with you.

Create the world you want to inhabit.

boom

I am a THUNDERSTORM
Booming through your life
Throwing hateful water at your parched spaces

You felt the wind and it soothed you at first
A quiet reminder that you are not alone

Energizing the stillness
Calling the creatures to life

YOU WANT TO LIVE ALIVE

You dream of open spaces
For the insistent wind to envelop you
Sweep you into a new configuration

Vicious electricity
First starts as a rumble in the distance
A slightly angry growl on the horizon

THE SKY IS GETTING DARK

The wind whips and beckons
Sweeps the trees around you
Calls you to step out and feel more

And then the first drop falls
A bullet at bare skin
Heavy, pregnant with fear

The sky lights up with diamonds
And instantaneously assaults the ground
With anger and delight

Energy is raining down upon you
You drink the essence of every drop
A promise of nourishment fills your every cell

YOUR THIRST WILL BE QUENCHED

The sky wants to explode and
Crash through your walls
Leave you soaked and
Washed clean

Open arms, drenched
Free and full of life
You can commune with the gods
of anger face to face

THE SPACE OF A STORM

Rises on the horizon
Observe the light chasing
You are a new creation

Dirt to mud
Fire to ash
Evolution
Encompassing

THE CONQUEST OF FEAR

5611

my heart is not a pizza
eight greasy slices
scarfed down in a famished fit

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO RUSH TO GRAB THE LAST SLICE

my love is infinite and growing
five omnipotent dimensions
even with a world to care for
i am completely yours

ooooooh!

OPEN WIDE
and let it in
the rush of an anxious world
flowing through you like an eight-lane speedway
out of control
speeding much too fast
on wet roads

take it in

I can feel my body pulsating, breathing in….
Every atom wants to be conscious, fully aware.

Am Dam

As I struggled against the tightening shell, the cries were unavoidable. The armor had outlived its purpose, it was time for it to go, but it managed to cling on tighter out of habit.

“LET ME GO!” I screamed from beneath the breastplate.

It did not release me.

The holes I had carved let in enough light to see the world around, full of color and completeness. I chipped away at the metal skin to get a better view, maybe free a hand to touch….