Poignant, innovative,
epic, and soulful—these
are but a few of the adjectives
used to describe the music of
Axiom of Choice.
Formed in 1992 by guitarist, composer
and Artistic Director
Loga
Ramin Torkian and co-producer
and percussionist Mammad Mohsenzadeh,
the ensemble’s goal is to
define a new sound within the
context of Persian music. They
were soon joined by vocalist
Mamak
Khadem whose prodigious
vocal talent complemented the
original compositions of Torkian.
The name of the ensemble is a
mathematical term, which clearly
defines their intentional freedom
of choice within the parameters
of their compositions and music.
As artists who immigrated to the
United States, Axiom of Choice
incorporates the sounds of other
cultures – both East and
West - broadening the scope and
appeal of their music while remaining
loyal to their Persian roots and
retaining the originality, distinctiveness
and integrity of their sound.
Their original compositions are
mostly based on Persian melodies
and modes and have universal appeal
because of their cohesive, seamless
and natural fusion with other
styles of music.
The musicians work within a unique
compositional structure in which
both improvisation and personal
expression can freely take place.
One important goal is to make
Persian music more accessible
to the broader audience. The other
is to communicate through a progressive
and new global sound, unique to
world music. Based on the quarter-tone
guitar, saz, diwan (Middle Eastern
lutes), Persian vocals, the Armenian
duduk (oboe), clarinet, electric
cello, and global percussion instruments,
their sound is at the same time
traditional and modern, Persian
and yet global. The group’s
music is self-expressive and powerful,
adventurous and mysterious, contemplative
and mournful, yet uplifting and
cathartic.
Their first album “Beyond
Denial” (X-Dot 25) was described
as “Near Eastern art music,
deeply moving and utterly beautiful”
by Rhythm. Their second release
“Niya Yesh” (Narada
World) became the winner of NAV’s
best contemporary world music
album in 2001. They were nominated
Best Recombinant World Music Ensemble
in 2001 by the LA Weekly Music
Awards. Their third album “Unfolding,”
also on Narada World, is inspired
by the Persian poet, mathematician,
and astronomer Omar Khayyam and
embraces his mystical poetry and
vision.
ABOUT
MEMBERS OF AXIOM OF CHOICE:
Loga Ramin Torkian is a guitarist,
Middle Eastern lutist, composer
and the Artistic Director of Axiom
of Choice. Born in Iran, he moved
to the United States after the
revolution. When asked to speak
about his musical background,
he says: “The path to defining
one’s music is never straight.
I reflect upon the day I left
my flamenco guitar teacher - disheartened
by his truthful comment that after
practicing for years, the only
way to bring myself to professional
standard would be to move to Spain,
otherwise my playing would always
have an accent. I knew I could
not leave the United States for
years to come and I felt I had
reached an end. I did not realize
then that I was about to discover
something very unique within myself.”
Loga spent the next three years
studying the tar, a Persian lute
and joined for a short period
a traditional ensemble by the
name of Nava. But he quickly learned
that he could not satisfy his
creativity within the framework
of traditional music. It was then
that he decided to create the
quarter-tone guitar to which he
adapted many of the tar techniques
and formed Axiom of Choice, which
served as a common ground for
other expatriates to work with
him. “As an émigré
artist, I have chosen to express
myself in music that is not bound
by the confines of traditional
Persian music. Yet, my music in
its very depth comes from that
tradition,” says Loga who
continues to use the radif (Persian
repertoire) and Persian melodies
as the source of his compositions.
Many master musicians have welcomed
his approach.
His innovative quarter-tone guitar
retooled with movable frets also
sets him apart as a guitarist
allowing him to play Middle Eastern
scales and create new ornamentations
on the guitar. He also performs
on other Middle Eastern string
instruments such as the Turkish
saz and the Kurdish diwan. His
extensive travels around the world
have been instrumental in developing
his great sensitivity towards
other cultures. He believes that
any music that crosses over to
other cultures should not only
be appealing, but also fundamentally
sound for the cultures involved.
Loga has also been involved in
composing music for films.
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Mamak Khadem is
the vocalist of the ensemble.
Trained in the classical Persian
style, by nature poignant, she
weaves emotive textures ranging
from bliss to pain, which give
a mystical and nostalgic bent
to the music. “When I
think of my childhood, my memories
are inseparable from the melodies
that touched my soul when I
was growing up. It was through
establishing this personal relationship
with music as well as my training
at the Children Choir for National
Radio and Television of Iran
that my musical education began.
But it was not until the late
seventies and after the revolution
that I truly became inspired
to learn Persian traditional
vocals.” Thus Mamak Khadem
sums up her musical background.
Like many other immigrants,
Mamak discovered her cultural
heritage after years of living
abroad. The revolution in Iran
and subsequently the immense
amount of work produced in the
early eighties by master musicians
of that time became her source
of inspiration. Since then,
she has seized every opportunity
to further her vocal art, regularly
traveling back to Iran to study
with some of the finest Persian
vocalists and masters. In 1992,
Mamak joined Axiom of Choice,
which allowed her to experiment
and define her own style. She
has expanded her vocal art also
by learning other methods of
singing (such as classical Indian,
and Bulgarian). Mamak believes
that the path of learning is
endless. However, one thing
clear to her is that Persian
vocal art can be successfully
used outside of its traditional
context.
“I love teaching children
and singing”, says Mamak.
These are the two main goals
in her life and she has been
fortunate enough to fulfill
both by teaching mathematics
and world culture classes to
high school students. She has
worked and recorded, among others,
with Hans Zimmer (on the score
of Peace Maker), Jamshied Sharifi,
Tulku, Omar Faruk Tekbilek,
Joel Mc Neally (on the soundtrack
of the movie “Buffalo
Soldier” and “Dark
Angels” TV series), Jeff
Rona, composer of the “Chicago
Blues” TV series score,
and Chris Beck, the composer
of “Buffy, the Vampire
Slayer” TV score.
Mamak
Khadem's Official Website
Ruben Haratoonian
from Armenia is a foremost duduk,
zurna and clarinet player. A
prominent student of the legendary
world-renowned Armenian duduk
player, Djivan Gasparyan, Ruben
is a graduate of the prestigious
Aram Khatchaturian College of
Music and the Komitas Conservatory
and has established himself
as a virtuoso performer and
the finest duduk player to live
in the United States and the
West. Prior to relocating to
the United States, he was the
Director and soloist for T.
Altounyan Armenian State Ensemble
of Folk Singing and Dancing.
He is currently the most active
duduk player living in the United
States and a recording artist
who has performed at numerous
prestigious venues. Dedicated
to preserving the music of Armenia
and the duduk tradition, he
is the first duduk player of
the Armenian ensemble Winds
of Passion. Ruben is esteemed
not only for the exquisite tonality
of his duduk playing but also
for his vast knowledge of the
melodies and maqams (traditional
motifs and modes) of not only
Armenia but also of the surrounding
region, including Iran, Kurdistan
and Azerbaijan. In this capacity,
he is unique. He joined Axiom
of Choice in 2000.
Andre Harutyunyan from Armenia
is a multi-percussionist who is
highly sought after by world music,
Armenian and Persian ensembles.
He has recorded and performed
with Djivan Gasparyan, Armen Chakmakian
and Vas, among others. He has
been a member of Axiom of Choice
since 2000.
They are joined by Greek American
musician Dimitrius Mahlis on guitar
and bouzouki.