{"id":114511,"date":"2025-05-22T16:23:20","date_gmt":"2025-05-22T20:23:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=114511"},"modified":"2025-05-23T11:03:31","modified_gmt":"2025-05-23T15:03:31","slug":"interview-pianist-pouya-hamidi-talks-ladom-ensemble-latest-release-sofreh-tisch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2025\/05\/22\/interview-pianist-pouya-hamidi-talks-ladom-ensemble-latest-release-sofreh-tisch\/","title":{"rendered":"INTERVIEW | Pianist Pouya Hamidi Talks About Ladom Ensemble & Their Latest Release: Sofreh Tisch"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Classically
Ladom Ensemble, L-R: Adam Campbell, percussion; Beth Silver, cello; Michael Bridge, accordion; Pouya Hamidi; piano (Photo: Bo Huang)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ladom Ensemble will be performing their unique fusion of Jewish and Persian music at the release party for their new album. Titled Sofreh Tisch, the launch takes place on June 2 at Lula Lounge.<\/p>\n

The four musicians of Ladom Ensemble call themselves a mini-orchestra. Made up of pianist Pouya Hamidi, percussionist Adam Campbell, accordionist Michael Bridge, and cellist Beth Silver, they take their collective backgrounds in traditional classical music training into new directions.<\/p>\n

The ensemble was founded nearly two decades ago by two musicians at the University of Toronto. It became a quartet, with its current members, in 2018. Today, their music could be described as a fusion that blends elements of klezmer, tango, jazz, rock, and both Persian and Western classical influences. One of the elements that characterizes their music is the capacity to improvise, alongside their technical virtuosity.<\/p>\n

Sofreh Tisch<\/h2>\n

The album\u2019s title comes from a blend of Persian and Yiddish\/Jewish traditions, and speaks to the nature of the music. Sofreh (\u0633\u0641\u0631\u0647), a Persian word, refers to the kind of traditional tablecloth that\u2019s used at weddings and other celebrations. Tisch (\u05d8\u05d9\u05e9) means table in Yiddish, and by extension, a happy gathering that takes place before a traditional wedding or other special occasion.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a reflection not only on the nature of the music, but of the friendship and artistic collaboration between the ensemble\u2019s members.<\/p>\n

Ladom Ensemble: Pianist Pouya Hamidi<\/h3>\n

Pouya Hamidi was one of the original duo who founded Ladom. With a Masters in Sound Recording from McGill University, he\u2019s the group\u2019s chief composer and arranger.<\/p>\n

The focus of the new album came simply from the roots of the ensemble\u2019s members.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy background is Iranian. I was born in Tehran,\u201d says Hamidi. He came to Canada as a 12 year old.<\/p>\n

He points out that cellist Beth Silver\u2019s family moved to Canada from Eastern Europe about a century ago.<\/p>\n

The ensemble\u2019s members know each other well from a history of touring, performing, and making music. Beth joined about a decade ago. It was simple proximity that led to the concept of the album. \u201cFor the idea of this album, it would be good to bring her background as well into the group.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beth is responsible for arranging about half the album, which essentially splits evenly between Jewish\/klezmer and Iranian music.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the idea behind the album,\u201d he says. \u201cIn a city like Toronto, you\u2019re able to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

He notes that there are certain musical elements that cut across both cultures, and that there has been a Jewish population in Iran for thousands of years. There are other cultural similarities.<\/p>\n

\u201cBoth communities have really suffered in history,\u201d he says. As a result, the music often expresses emotions like pain and longing. \u201cThere are similarities in that,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n

\u201cDance is a big part in both cultures.\u201d Tracks like Prince\u2019s Freylekhs are an upbeat klezmer band dance linked directly to traditional klezmer dance idiom.<\/p>\n

The music goes on a journey from Transylvania and Eastern European Jewish diaspora to the Caspian Sea, The Bronx circa mid-century, and beyond.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnother musical idea which is really similar between the cultures is embellishments,\u201d Hamidi says.<\/p>\n

He mentions that Silver studied musical traditions in Romania, where embellishments are understood as a part of interpreting the music. \u201cMelody isn\u2019t really what\u2019s on the page,\u201d Pouya laughs. \u201cIt\u2019s similar in Iranian music. There\u2019s a lot of embellishments to the melody.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s practice and performance together that creates just the right vibe for it all to hang together live. The ensemble\u2019s unique combination of sounds adds to the creative spark. \u201cIn Ladom, it\u2019s because it\u2019s such a unique instrumentation,\u201d he says. \u201cWhat we do together, naturally makes it our own. That\u2019s what makes the ensemble unique.\u201d<\/p>\n

He credits their shared backgrounds in Western classical, and performing chamber music over the years, with their easy musical chemistry. \u201cWe bring that sensibility to our music.\u201d<\/p>\n