Mahan Mirarab is a musician and composer from Tehran living in Vienna. On his double-necked guitar he combines chamber music and contemporary jazz into a new reading of Iranian classical music. He played at Nowruz 2024 with the Inner Unity Ensemble and the Golnar Quintet and gave the maqam workshop at the jazzhane Festival 2026.
With jazzhane
- 17.03.2024 Nowruz Festival, Moods Zurich
- 25.07.2026 jazzhane Festival 2026, Rote Fabrik Zurich
About
Mahan Mirarab is a musician and composer from Tehran, currently living in Vienna.
Mahan’s authentic and honest language on his double-necked guitar combines European elements of chamber music combined with contemporary forms of jazz, opening a new interpretation of Iranian classical music.
He represents a generation of young migrant musicians in Europe who are changing the sound borders in the music industry and are pushing for more diversity with respect to quality, dialogue, and creativity. His aim is to introduce a new narrative through music in regard to middle eastern cultures and jazz and in doing so he has succeeded to create his complex yet accessible style.
His approach to composition and arrangement introduces a unique blend of rhythms and harmonies that showcases his rich musical vocabulary as well as his in-depth knowledge of many different styles. As a result, his compositions brilliantly avoid clichés and expand the understanding of how each style can be interpreted. Mahan’s compositions, arrangements, and performances find their way into numerous jazz, experimental, ecoustic, electronic, folk, and traditional projects as well as in films, theatre, and dance productions.