Album Notes

“Fresh Air”, the latest work of composer/guitarist Said Tinat, is a globally influenced musical work with a uniquely eclectic style of composition. The musicality of the performance can only belong to the composer himself.

Classical guitarist and composer Said Tinat (Said Amintinat) was born into a musical family in Iran surrounded by traditional musical influences. Initially, he was a self-taught musician who began to experiment with western styles. As a teenager, he came to the United States to pursue his studies in the classical discipline.

His formal guitar studies began in Washington DC with Spencer Fellows. Over the next few years, he studied with a very diverse group of well-known musicians; Jeffery Meyericks, Carlos Barbosa-Lima, Michael Lorrimer, Guido Santorsola and Charlie Byrd.

He received a scholarship from The Peabody Conservatory of The Johns Hopkins University where he studied classical guitar with Ray Chester and the grand master Manuel Barrueco. It was the latter who influenced him the most in the development of his style and choice of repertoire which encompasses composers from the Renaissance period to the moderns, including compositions of his own.

After completion of his studies at The Peabody Conservatory he began a performance and teaching career. He has held teaching posts in many centers of musical education including The Brighton School of Music in the United Kingdom and the Music and Arts Institute of San Francisco.

As a performer he has appeared at the Guitar Society of Washington and at concert series held at The American University, Music and Arts Institute of San Francisco, National Gallery of Art, The Freer Gallery, The World Bank, IMF center, Cellar Door productions, numerous embassies through out the world and major Jazz venues such as The New Morning and Ecole Atla in Paris.

Apart from a solo career, his collaboration with other international artists has resulted in the release of several highly successful albums- Avaye Man (DC), Black hole Buddha (DC), Banoo (L.A.), Rang-A-Rang (Toronto), Said Tinat and Daniel Da Silva, Live (Paris) are a few among many. His performance with Marjorie Lee, a solo pianist for The National Symphony Orchestra, was aired live on WGMS, a classical radio station in Washington DC. His music has been featured on the PBS television series, Adventure Divas and on French Radio Networks. Probe, an album of his own compositions won critical acclaim and for eight weeks held the first place in world music category on MP3.com.

Recently, Said began a focused study of both Jazz and Flamenco in order to bring more breadth and depth to his compositions. At Ecole Atla in Paris he spent four years immersing himself in the study of Jazz composition and arrangement with Jeane-Christophe Hoarau. He also studied Flamenco under the tutelage of Claude Worms. The influence of these styles can be heard in his latest work “Fresh Air.”

“Fresh Air,” his latest guitar compositions recorded in Paris has just been released. Each piece employs pure melodies of a very original nature that are accompanied by lush harmonies based on very inventive rhythms. It creates a beautifully simple and direct effect that ultimately hides the complexities of its compositional style, which spans many global methods and influences. It is a unique and personal work that renders homage to the different world cultures Said has embraced as well as the family and friends he has loved.