New Haven, Connecticut, is not exactly concert central these days, so it was a pleasure to have Kurdish ensemble The Kamkars come here from Iran to perform at the Jewish Community Center of Greater New Haven this summer.

The Kamkars are seven brothers and one sister who are reviving and reinvigorating traditional Kurdish music. The musicians range in age from 30 to 52 and have a range of experiences in folk and traditional music, as well as classical music from Persia and the West.

Hooshang Kamkar is the eldest of the clan and composes much of the music for the ensemble. Lead singer Bijan Kamkar plays tombak (a chalice-shaped drum) and daf, a traditional Kurdish frame drum that plays a significant role in the ensemble's music. Pashang Kamkar is the elder of two santur (hammer dulcimer) players in the group, along with youngest brother Ardavan Kamkar. Sister Ghashang Kamkar performs on setar, Arjang Kamkar on tombak, Arsalan Kamkar on barbat (oud), Ardeshir Kamkar on kamancheh (a spike fiddle), and all contributed lead or backing vocals on many of the pieces performed.

The program for the New Haven concert was a generous selection of Persian classical and folk music and included many newly composed pieces. Each instrumentalist received plenty of "front time" to display their talents, but the real core of The Kamkars is rich ensemble playing that relies on complex percussion, powerful unison use of the string instruments, and the impressive vocal work of Bijan Kamkar. Perhaps the highlight of the program, however, came at the opening of the second half of the program in a solo performance by Ardavan Kamkar. He played a sweeping, cinematic work for santur that was not only an exercise in virtuosity, but a triumph of dynamic new ideas for the instrument that brought the audience to their feet.

Kamkars have recently released two excellent and distinctive recordings. Kani Sepi [Kereshmeh] features more of the vocal and instrumental work that the band performs live. These focus on the traditional Kurdish style called gourani, based on Persian maqams (modes). This album will give you the strongest look at the traditional style even as it looks for new ideas. Chant of Drums [Quarter Tone, via Kereshmeh] is a single epic that was written primarily for percussion instruments, with a limited number of string and vocal parts. It is a dramatic work composed by Hooshang Kamkar and based on the melodies and rhythms for Kurdish religious ceremonies related to the dervishes. It is by far the more innovative and modern of the two recordings and will challenge some of your preconceived notions about Persian music.