The Purity of Desire

The Purity of Desire is an intimate, cross‑cultural exploration by Ivo Perelman (tenor saxophone), Gordon Grdina (oud), and Hamin Honari (tombak, daf, percussion). Recorded at Park West Studios in Brooklyn in January 2020, the album draws direct inspiration from the writings of 13th‑century Persian Sufi poet Jalal ad‑Din Rumi, whose themes of longing, transcendence, and ecstatic devotion shape the emotional arc of the music. Across eight improvisations, the trio creates a sound world where Middle Eastern rhythmic cycles, modal lyricism, and free‑jazz spontaneity merge organically. Perelman’s saxophone lines—serpentine, yearning, and intensely vocal—intertwine with Grdina’s resonant oud textures and Honari’s intricate hand‑drum patterns. Rather than presenting a “fusion” aesthetic, the ensemble achieves a cohesive, extemporized dialogue that feels both ancient and forward‑looking.