DUST AND THE MOON | WORLD MUSIC CENTRAL - REVIEW

Rite of Strings’ Extraordinary Debut, Dust and the Moon

by: Angel Romero | September 2026

Dust and the Moon is the debut album by a remarkable act called Rite of Strings. The international ensemble includes Iranian-American composer and santoor (santur) master Ehsan Matoori, virtuoso bassist and composer Edward Perez, Australian drum luminary and composer Engin Kaan Günaydın, and brilliant violinist and composer Eylem Basaldi. In addition, celebrated clarinetist Ismail Lumanovski appears as a special guest.

The music on Dust and the Moon is dazzling and spectacular. The quartet interlaces elegant Persian traditions, Mediterranean influences, contemporary jazz, chamber music, accessible improvisation and a powerful rhythm section with inventive rock style drumming. The album contains original compositions by Ehsan Matoori, who delivers memorable santoor work, as well as material by Edward Perez, Eylem Basaldi, and French classical music composer Erik Satie. The result is a deeply collaborative recording that feels timeless, both ancient and contemporary, rooted in tradition while speaking with a distinctly modern voice.