Hafez Modir aka Modirzadeh

"Saxophonist Hafiz Modirzadeh is unlike any other player or composer out there. His relationship to the musical whole on his recordings is an approach that carries within it a host of contradictions, especially as it engages Eastern modalism and European chromaticism. This set, which is earmarked by the truly lovely "Tetrapath: Music," (which earmarks the entire proceeding) is a concept on the union of these two pursuits and how they play out, not only in jazz and improvised music, but in the languages folk musics, and how they inform and engage one another through the general vision of cultures and the particular gaze of musicians. His quintet that includes drummer Royal Hartigan, guitarist Timothy Volpicella, bassist Ken Filiano, and guests such as Ramin Zoufonon on piano and Sharam Kazemi on dumbek, is well versed in the spatial orientation of Modirzadeh's composition and approach to the inclusion of improvisation. This is not that far outside the realm of Ornette Coleman's harmolodics, and the artist was certainly influenced by it, but the individual solos matter less here, and pace -- with its restrained use of tension and ballast -- is emphasized more. Also, the texture of each instrument as it is drawn into the discourse of the group and extends itself in solo is of primary importance. This is a two-act work, which covers so much ground it's dizzying by the end. However, Modirzadeh does so in such a lyrical and sensuous way, and it becomes a joy to have been overwhelmed by such a singular work of art. This man is a composer to watch. "-Thom Jurek, All Music Guide - All Music Guide

"I believe Hafez Modirzadeh has something important to say... exceptionally inspired and worthwhile... Modirzadeh has excellent and attractive style... he sounds beautiful, floating, lyrical, dynamic..."
-Kim Richmond - Jazz Player Magazine

"Hafez Modirzadeh's In Chromodal Discourse draws from a variety of traditions towards a conceptual end, with decidedly cross-cultural results." - Josef Woodard - Jazz Times

improvized jazz of an extraordinary nature...important music here, deserving to be exposed to a broad spectrum of jazz listeners...fresh and valid...exceptionally inspired ---Jazz Player Magazine

intelligent...highly emotional, creative, and conceptual---Jazz Times

...explores movingly on tenor sax in a searching style, with modal, eastern-based concepts of the type that influenced Coltrane. Through it all, Modirzadeh displays a ...personal synthesis of jazz and folkloric styles that is worth hearing.---Jazz Times

complex and fascinating...what jazz would have sounded like if it continued to move East with the same earnestness that marked Trane's final years---Option Magazine

extremely original...not very commercial---SF Examiner & Chronicle

soulful saxophone and an eclectic world view---Rhythm Magazine

strong performance; clear and crisp sound---Wire Magazine

gifte, eclectic post-bop interpreter---Metro Weekly

evocative, elaborate renditions---Asian Week

a communicative improvisor---The Daily Californian

both lyrical and swinging---Monterey Peninsula Review

application of near eastern tonalities adds interesting color, texture and ideas to his solos. ---Soul Note Records - Various