Product Description On his latest album, Mirror of Emotions which became #2 on NAV chart in September, Farzad utilizes his violin to create music that reflects his emotions in the hope that listeners will discover similar feelings within themselves. Classically trained, Farzad makes music that falls into the arena of classical crossover or contemporary classical with elements of Mideastern folkloric (reflecting his heritage), Latin (influenced by time spent living in South America where he was the concertmaster of the National Symphony Orchestra of Ecuador), other world musics, new age and smooth jazz. Some of the tunes on Mirror of Emotions (on Amity Records) directly relate to attempting to create a better world and a deeper understanding between all people. The album begins with "Searching" (the first step towards understanding), continues with love songs such as "Thinking Of You" and "Come Be With Me," contains "Conversation" ("dialog is crucial for people to unite, and this music starts with disparate elements that merge at the end"), and features the seven-minute "Why?" ("Understanding is not always possible at the time something happens"). "Come Be With Me" is Farzad's arrangement of a traditional Persian folk melody. The album also contains three Latin-influenced pieces -- Farzad's "La Dádiva [The Gift]" ("my interpretation of cha-cha and Bossa Nova rhythms"), and two tunes written by producer Louie Shelton, "Santa Fe Nights" and "Fiesta." Mirror of Emotions, which features many original compositions by Farzad, was produced by Louie Shelton, a recording artist in his own right, also plays acoustic and electric guitars on the album. A longtime producer and session-musician, Shelton has played on albums by Barbara Streisand, Whitney Houston, Neil Diamond, Tom Scott, Marvin Gaye, The Carpenters, Bread, The Monkees, Joe Cocker, Seals & Crofts, Art Garfunkel, Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight, Diana Ross and many other top acts. Farzad -- who not only plays violin on the recording, but also piano and electronic keyboards -- is additionally backed by bassist Craig Nelson and drummer Tommy Wells. Review ..If you have any stress problems, buy 'Mirror Of Emotions' -problem solved. -- Wes Gillespie who also writes reviews for All That Jazz, The Brazilian Music Review, Sony Jazz and hosts the Sony Jazz Europe website. 2002Farzad ... whose Persian violin and jazzy folkloric compositions have carved a new category of art into the world of music. -- Spencer Theater,2002This album should be required listening in schools around the world.. -- IMPROVIJAZZATION NATION by Dick Metcalf, 2002 From the Artist Here I have attempted to convey the commonality of human emotions through an even greater range of musical genres by using western classical, eastern folkloric, smooth jazz, pop, and Latin styles. Just like we enjoy eating different foods from countries all over the world, we should appreciate music from everywhere too. I don't believe in musical limitations. I don't care what style music is if it is good. In the classical field I was always a rebel because I was never comfortable listening to just one type of music. I started composing music when I was in second grade, but it became a much more serious endeavor when I was in college. I also began studying traditional Persian folkloric music because it reminded me of my youth. Everything I write comes from the harmony, which is a little strange, but that’s my tendency because I love harmony so much. I hear a melody and I start working around it. I use the piano for compositional purposes, and I play it a little on the tune "Why?", but I primarily use the violin for performance. I think humankind has the opportunity to move forward and overcome all of the problems the world faces. If we start with communication and sharing, more and more of a global realization of possibilities will take place. Some governments may delay the process, but they cannot stop it. We are at a new point of maturity for humanity. I truly believe that humanity is destined for something more noble than what we have seen in the past. Mirror of Emotions is a symbol of celebrating diversity and promoting unity. About the Artist International violinist Farzad strongly believes in "the oneness of humanity" and strives to communicate "the commonality of human emotions" through the music he composes and performs. On his latest album, Mirror of Emotions, he utilizes his violin to create music that reflects his emotions in the hope that listeners will discover similar feelings within themselves. One reason that Farzad stresses the common ties of all humanity is because of his worldwide travels and his personal odyssey. He was born and raised in Tehran, Iran, but left there at age 18 and had his college education in the United States. When Khomeini came into power in the late Seventies, most of Farzad's family was persecuted for their belief in the Baha'i religion so they were scattered around the world. His uncle was executed in Iran for his faith. Farzad has never returned. "I have lived longer in the United States than I did in Iran," he says, "and I appreciate the freedoms we have here because I have seen the danger of political and military rulers who persecute anyone with different beliefs." When Farzad Khozein was six-years-old, he began taking violin lessons from his uncle, Rahmatolláh Badiyi, one of the top violinists in Iran. In the past few years, Farzad returned the favor by producing an album by Badiyi, Sounds of the Violin and Kamáncheh, for Amity Records. . Farzad was accepted into the Conservatory of Music in Tehran when he entered the fourth grade and he began dedicated studies of Western classical music that culminated there when he graduated with his diploma. He spent one summer living in Kenya, Africa with his brother. Farzad continued his education at Indiana University where he studied with violinists Yuval Yaron, Franco Gulli and James Buswell. Farzad also took composition classes from John Newton and jazz improvisation with David Baker. "There were tremendous opportunities to hear and perform concerts there," Farzad remembers. He played regularly with the school’s full orchestra, chamber orchestra, string quartets and orchestral bands backing opera and ballet performances. Farzad, who left for one semester to study with Jesse Cecci (the concert master with the Denver Symphony Orchestra), received his Bachelors of Music degree in performance. Some of Farzad’s family had settled in South America, so he went to visit for a year and immediately got a job as concert master with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ecuador. "While I was there I developed a real love for Latin music, especially the energy, driving rhythms and innovative melodic lines." Back in the United States, he decided to continue his education at the University of North Texas where he received his Masters degree in music performance and composition. During those years, Farzad performed constantly at night and on weekends with Houston’s Ballet, Grand Opera and Pop Orchestra companies (one time sharing the stage with Woody Herman) as well as with the Dallas Opera and the Ft. Worth Symphony. Farzad moved to Albuquerque and was invited to serve as the concert master for the Second Baha’i World Congress Orchestra in New York City which included concerts for 30,000 attendees. Farzad recorded his first album, From My Heart, creating all the music himself. The album, which hit The Music Review Top 100 charts, contained a mix of original compositions as well as his contemporary arrangements of Persian folk music. In recent years, Farzad has performed throughout the United States and internationally in Canada, Europe and South America. In the summer of 2002, Farzad co-headlined a six-week "Oneness Tour" produced by multi-Grammy-Award-winning K.C. Porter, who has worked with Ricky Martin, Carlos Santana and Los Fabulosos Cadillacs. The concerts were put on by Oneness, a non-profit organization that promotes racial unity through music and the arts. See more