I Will Not Stand Alone

On *I Will Not Stand Alone*, Iranian musician Kayhan Kalhor plays the shah kaman, a custom-made instrument crafted by the Australian Peter Biffin. Kalhor is a master of the kamancheh (a Persian spike fiddle), and the shah kaman is a deeper-sounding version of that traditional instrument. Santour player Ali Bahrami Fard, who plays bass santour here, is Kalhor’s duet partner on this fine album. (The santour is a hammered dulcimer, which can sound like the piano and is related to it.) The exchange between the two musicians on the lovely opener, \"Between the Heavens and Me,\" is spellbinding. The shah kaman offers a number of timbres: at certain points during this piece, it has a breathy quality that recalls a low-toned flute. \"Where Are You?\" finds the duo expanding on a gorgeous and melancholy Kurdish melody. Despite its title, \"The Laziest Summer Afternoon\" is a lively piece—it’s easy to imagine people moving to its springy rhythms—and \"Dancing Under the Walnut Tree\" is in the same vein. \"Hear Me Cry\" displays a fiery intensity while the title track dazzles with its speedy, insistent lines.