Eishan Ensemble – Northern Rhapsody Album Launch Concert

Led by acclaimed Persian-Australian tar player and composer Hamed Sadeghi, the ARIA-nominated Eishan Ensemble draws on contemporary and classical music traditions from both East and West. Eishan’s repertoire consists predominantly of Sadeghi’s original compositions that feature diverse improvisatory idioms, including jazz. Sadeghi’s psychedelic virtuosity is joined by the individual talents of Michael Avgenicos on saxophone, Adem Yilmaz on percussions, and Maximillian Alduca on double bass to create layered and sophisticated soundscapes. Described as ‘Persian chamber jazz’ and ‘Middle Eastern jazz fusion', Eishan defies neat labels and is more than the sum of its parts.

EISHAN ENSEMBLE: LIVE AT Woodville Town Hall // Thursday 11 September 2025 // Doors 7:00 pm; Show 7:30 pm // Tickets: $55 or $40 Concession - Early Birds: $35

Location: Woodvillw Town Hall 74/76 Woodville Rd, Woodville South SA 5011.

/ EISHAN ENSEMBLE /

Eishan Ensemble, led by renowned Persian-Australian tar virtuoso and composer Hamed Sadeghi, is an ARIA-nominated group that fuses the contemporary and classical music traditions of both East and West. Blurring the lines between Persian chamber jazz and Middle Eastern jazz fusion, Eishan Ensemble’s sound defies easy categorization.

The ensemble's core lineup features world-class musicians, including Michael Avgenicos on saxophone, Adem Yilmaz on percussion, and Maximillian Alduca on double bass, with Sadeghi providing the group’s distinct Persian spirit on the tar.

Praised by the Sydney Morning Herald for their “astonishing power and convulsive impact,” Eishan Ensemble has earned critical acclaim for its compelling performances and innovative recordings. Since its formation in 2016, the Sydney-based ensemble has toured extensively across Australia and internationally, gracing prestigious stages such as the Sydney Opera House, Melbourne Recital Hall, Sydney Powerhouse Museum, and global festivals like London Jazz Festival, Festibalmes Barcelona, WOMAD, Auckland Arts Festival, and the Rome Jazz Festival.

Eishan Ensemble has released three celebrated albums, earning nominations for the APRA Art Music Awards and Sydney Fringe Festival Awards. Their debut album, Nim Dong (released on Art As Catharsis), serves as a musical canvas for Sadeghi’s childhood memories and stories. The follow-up, Afternoon Tea at Six (2020) was inspired by Rabih Abou-Khalil, Anouar Brahem, Kayhan Kalhor, and Ravi Shankar. Sadeghi expanded the ensemble's sonic palette with daring compositions and lively instrumental interplay.

Their third album, Project Masnavi (2021), is inspired by the mystical poetry of Rumi’s Masnavi, a cornerstone of Persian literature. Sadeghi reflects, “Rumi’s quote, ‘the garden of the world has no limits, except in your mind,’ deeply resonated with me.” This project introduced new textures, with the accordion, in particular, leaving a profound impression on him: “The compression and expansion of the bellows reminded me of a heartbeat... a musical embodiment of love, as Rumi described it.”

Looking ahead, Eishan Ensemble is preparing to release their anticipated fourth album, Northern Rhapsody (2025). This project will explore the depth and beauty of the Australian landscape, as Sadeghi notes, “Through the universal language of music, I aim to highlight the human experience of navigating new landscapes, identities, and connections.”

With their lineup of virtuosic musicians and increasingly ambitious compositions, Eishan Ensemble continues to captivate audiences, drawing them into a rich tapestry of sonic wonder.

"A rich and compelling brew of ideas and sounds"
- Sydney Opera House, May 2021.

“As an ensemble, Eishan operate almost as one, with superb accuracy in phrasing, cadence points and endings.”
- The Street Theatre Canberra, Feb 2021.

/ HAMED SADEGHI /
Hamed Sadeghi is an Iranian-born tar player and composer based in Gadigal land (Sydney). Trained as a Persian classical musician in Tehran, Hamed’s haunting compositions give you a taste of his cherished culture. He has performed at the most notable music festivals and in prestigious concert halls in Australia and worldwide.

He has toured nationally and internationally with his band Eishan Ensemble, the improvisation trio Vazeshand, and Persian maestro Shahram Nazeri, amongst others. He has been scoring music for multiple theatre and dance productions, including Sami in Paradise (Belvoir 2018), Stop Girl (Belvoir 2021), The Boomkak Panto (Belvoir 2021), Cloe Fournier’s Tout Ce Saat (Sydney Dance Company), English (Melbourne Theatre Company) and William Zappa’s The Iliadat (Sydney Festival, Adelaide Festival and Fourwinds festival).

As a composer, Sadeghi has released six albums to critical acclaim and has earned recognition through nominations for ARIA Awards 2021 for Best World Music Album and Best Jazz Album. He has been a finalist at the APRA Art Music Awards and has been nominated for best original score of mainstage production at the Sydney Theatre Awards.