A 2021 performance of Isfahan by the LA Jazz Connection, featuring Josh Mellicker on electric guitar, Danny Janklow on alto saxophone, and Michael Gurrola on acoustic bass. Written by Billy Strayhorn and Duke Ellington as part of their Far East Suite, Isfahan is performed at a moderate 100 BPM in D-flat with an ABAC form. Mellicker takes a one-chorus guitar solo, Janklow delivers a two-chorus alto saxophone statement, and Gurrola contributes a two-chorus bass solo. The composition is regarded as one of Strayhorn's most beautiful melodies, with lush harmonic movement that evokes the Persian city for which it is named. The moderate tempo allows all three soloists to explore the rich chord changes at a contemplative pace. Johnny Hodges's original recording with the Ellington orchestra set a definitive standard for this piece, and any subsequent interpretation engages with that legacy. The LA Jazz Connection's guitar-led arrangement offers a different textural approach while preserving the composition's essential elegance and harmonic sophistication.
