guitar
Mahan Mirarab is regarded as one of the most distinctive voices at the intersection of contemporary jazz, Iranian musical tradition, and European sound culture. Based in Vienna, the guitarist and composer combines diverse musical worlds with remarkable ease — poetic, virtuosic, and deeply expressive. His characteristic double-neck guitar has become a symbol of an artistic vision that does not separate cultures, but brings them into dialogue.
With his ACT debut album Unspoken, Mirarab explores themes of identity, migration, intimacy, and the beauty of cultural diversity. 3sat Kulturzeit described the album as “a touching work about closeness, inner conflict, and the beauty of two cultures,” while Rolling Stone praised each track as “its own musical, at times melancholic travel diary.” Austrian newspaper Der Standard called Unspoken “an impressive debut,” in which influences from Iranian art music, European musical traditions, and jazz merge “into a coherent and compelling whole.”
An essential part of Mahan Mirarab’s artistic work lies in his collaborations with outstanding musicians from a wide range of genres and backgrounds. He has worked with internationally acclaimed artists such as cellist Kian Soltani, singer and composer Golnar Shahyar, and the renowned vision string quartet. These collaborations are also a defining element of his live performances, where improvisational openness, chamber music precision, and intercultural exchange come together in deeply immersive concert experiences.
