Rana Farhan
Iranian jazz-blues singer based in New York since 1989.
Rana Farhan is an Iranian musician and singer who works in jazz and blues. After graduating from Tehran University, she left Iran in 1989 and has lived in New York since then.
Quick Facts
- Origin
- Iran
- Genre
- Blues
- jazz
- experimental
- Occupation
- Singer
- Years active
- 2005–present
Facts from the source article.
Recording albums
Rana Farhan's first full-length CD, "The Blues Are Brewin'", a collection of American jazz and blues standards, was made with guitarist/producer Steven Toub in 2005. Her second release, "I Return", blended classical Persian poetry with contemporary blues and jazz, establishing a model for her ongoing jazz fusion project. Following positive reception of the independently-circulating single "Rumi's Prayer", she again worked with Toub on an album featuring poetry by Rumi and Hafez. The track "Drunk with Love" received critical acclaim and was used in various contexts, including performances on the Iranian version of American Idol and in Bahman Ghobadi's 2009 film "No One Knows About Persian Cats". Her 2011 album "Moon and Stone" is an expressive tribute to soul music. A major album release party for the 2014 recording "Attar Boulevard" was held at New York's DROM.
Appearances
Rana Farhan’s music and interviews have reached audiences across multiple continents. She has been heard on BBC Persian, Manoto, and Voice of America, as well as on Suzi Khatami’s “Live From Hollywood” on KIRN 670 AM in Los Angeles. German listeners caught her on dw-world.de with Shahram Ahadi, while French audiences heard her on RFI’s “Taraneyeh Nasorudeh” with Farid Vahabi. She also appeared on Voice of America’s Radio Farda and Homa Sarshar’s “Khaaneh-ye doost” on 670 AM in Los Angeles. In the UK, she joined Behzad Bolour on BBC Persia’s Kook entertainment show. Australian listeners heard her on Sholeh Sadr’s SBS radio from Melbourne. In the United States, she was featured on “Saba: Wind of Love” on KKFI 90.1 FM in Kansas City, “The Upper Room with Joe Kelly” on WVOF 88.5 FM in Connecticut, and “Persian Hour” with Shahrokh Nikfar on KYRS 92.3 FM in Spokane. Internationally, she appeared on Buenos Aires’ “Goodtime Blues Show.” On television, she has been seen on Bebin TV in Los Angeles with Melissa Shoshahi and on Voice of America/Persian TV’s Shabahang.
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