Zafarán – Zafarán (self-release, 2025)
It doesn’t take long. Bjorn Wennas’ softly pensive guitar is joined by the heart-drenched vocals of Carmen Marsico. Dan Meyers’ serpentine duduk and Davide Roberto’s shadowy percussion slip in and Zafarán’s self-titled debut album is off and entrancing with its traditional Romany song “Ederlezi.” But don’t settle in for a mellow journey just yet, because track two is as kicking a version of the likewise traditional “Lule Lule” as you’ll ever hear.
And so, it is with Zafarán (Persian for “Saffron”), an Italian/American quartet with a pan-Mediterranean sound and influences from all across the region. Some of what they do here soothes like lullabies; some will have you dancing round your space of choice, and blissfully so. Old sweet songs mix with fresh new ideas, and Zafaran (plus a few perfectly cast guest players) have a real treasure of an introduction here.
Buy the album from www.zafaranmusic.com.
Author: Tom Orr
Tom Orr is a California-based writer whose talent and mental stability are of an equally questionable nature. His hobbies include ignoring trends, striking dramatic poses in front of his ever-tolerant wife and watching helplessly as his kids surpass him in all desirable traits.