Radif Suite is an important new recording in the continuing advancement of jazz from trumpeter Amir ElSaffar and tenor saxophonist Hafez Modirzadeh. The release marks the first exploration of the Iraqi maqam and the Persian dastgah in a jazz context. Both ElSaffar and Modirzadeh are of mixed heritage (Iraqi American and Iranian American, respectively) whose musical careers are dedicated to expressing their ancestral traditions within a highly personalized and creative jazz language. ElSaffar, who has spent years traveling abroad seeking out masters who could impart to him the Iraqi maqam tradition, composed the highly acclaimed Two Rivers Suite, the first work joining maqam with jazz. Modirzadeh, who spent years under the guidance of Iranian master musician Mahmoud Zoufounoun, has developed his own chromodal approach, which brings together Persian modes with jazz into one cohesive system. They are joined here by world-renowned bassist Mark Dresser and master drummer Alex Cline.