Formed originally by Kamran Hooshmand after the success of a series of running jam sessions he established in 1987, 1001 Nights Orchestra is a Texas-based collective that plays Middle Eastern-centric music. Each member in 1001 Nights Orchestra is an expert in the various styles, scales and instruments of their given region. The Balkans, Iran, Turkey, Spain and Russia--amongst others--are all woven into the rich and diverse instrumental tapestry the group performs. Despite the studied nature of it all, however, 1001 Nights Orchestra is lively and upbeat, with a sound more fit for a party than a history class. The band has been a staple on the world music scene in its native home of Austin since its inception, and has recently began to gain more exposure from listeners outside of Texas as well.
