Kiumars Vahedi (Vocals): A seasoned jazz vocalist known for his emotive delivery and innovative approach to standards.
Albert Palau (Piano): A virtuoso pianist with a keen sense of musical exploration and improvisation.
Miquel Alvarrez (Double Bass): A versatile and accomplished bassist providing a solid foundation and melodic richness.
Tico Porcar (Drums): A dynamic and expressive drummer, contributing to the quartet's rhythmic intricacies.
At 34, Kiumars Vahedi, a charismatic and innovative male jazz singer, leads the Kiumars Vahedi Quartet. This project is a jazz odyssey, meticulously reimagining standards to spotlight harmonic sophistication and rhythmic innovation. With a unique emphasis on personalized melodies, the quartet breathes new life into the rich jazz tradition. Kiumars, boasting an unexpectedly wide vocal range from deep lows to powerful highs, defies musical boundaries. For him, improvised communication with fellow musicians takes precedence, reflecting a profound commitment to collaborative artistry within the quartet.
Kiumars's quartet envisions pushing the boundaries of communication within the jazz genre. The project is a canvas for intricate rhythmic variations, offering a dynamic musical experience. The emphasis on personalized melodies ensures each performance to be a distinct journey through Jazz history. Crucially, communication among musicians, especially with the pianist, remains the quartet's main ingredient. The stability of drums and bass, even more crucial than in typical 4tets, becomes paramount in ensuring the seamless fusion of arranged compositions with spontaneous musical dialogues.
Expect a captivating blend of reimagined jazz standards, where harmonic complexity meets rhythmic innovation. Kiumars Vahedi Quartet promises a sonic journey filled with unexpected twists, intricate rhythmic patterns, and personalized melodic interpretations. This is jazz that not only pays homage to the classics but also breathes new life into them, inviting the audience to experience familiar tunes in a refreshing light.
Kiumars’s musical roots trace back to classical guitar and a brief stint with classical piano that he studied in the conservatory of Luxembourg City. Despite his family's classical background—his mother and sister as pianists and his father as a percussionist—Kiumars had an innate desire to sing. At the age of 15, without his family's knowledge, he secretly applied for Jazz singing classes alongside his conservatory studies, a decision that transformed his life and ignited a passion for the future. Despite initial skepticism from his family, who viewed singing as a distraction, Kiumars persevered. After completing academic years, he formed his 5tet with Alex Gilson (double bass), Paul Morvan (drums), Marc Stélin (trumpet), and Pierre Brouant (piano). His career gained momentum as he carved his unique path in the jazz world, drawing inspiration from legends like Mark Murphy, Kurt Elling, Mel Tormé, and Sarah Vaughan.
He initiated his jazz journey by securing regular gigs at venues that appointed him as a resident artist. These opportunities became his creative playground, allowing him to exercise, experiment, and forge connections within the jazz community. Like a chain reaction, his presence expanded, leading to engagements in an increasing number of venues.
Along his path he intersected with Pierre Brouant, a virtuoso pianist, when his group's original pianist had to cancel. This unexpected change led to a creative alliance as Pierre and Kiumars, known as "PIVA," embarked on arranging well-known standards with their distinctive approach to communicative music. Pierre's reharmonization introduced unforeseen directions to Kiumars' melodic exploration. As their collaboration deepened, Kiumars, aiming to broaden his horizons, turned his attention to Valencia. Motivated by the city's lively music scene and the presence of Berklee College of Music, he envisioned a future of exploration and new connections and fusions between Spain and France. Despite the disruption caused by the pandemic, Kiumars has recently rekindled his musical journey at "Marino Jazz," a venue that has welcomed him for the past 8 months where he’d play every Thursday night with Tico Porcar (Drums) and Sergio Albentosa (Hammond)