His Gabbah is Turquoise

Double bassist Ali Kian Yazdanfar releases his single His Gabbah Is Turquoise, a world premiere by composer Parisa Sabet with pianist Brigitte Poulin. Commissioned for Yazdanfar’s upcoming album Sayeh-Roshan (Persian for chiaroscuro), the work is inspired by the patterns, textures, and colours of gabbah—a traditional Persian rug known for its raw beauty and expressive, often asymmetrical designs. The title evokes the cultural symbolism of the colour turquoise, associated with wisdom, protection, and hope. Drawing on conversations about their fathers and shared Iranian heritage, Sabet describes the piece as “an homage to the fathers,” offering a personal and emotional tribute woven from memory and tradition.

Ali Kian Yazdanfar is the principal double bass of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal and a sought-after soloist, chamber musician, and educator. A physics graduate from Johns Hopkins University, he won major orchestral positions in Houston, Washington, San Francisco, and Montreal. Deeply inspired by his Iranian heritage, he frequently commissions new works for solo bass and is currently an associate professor at McGill University’s Schulich School of Music.