As ECM continues to push the envelope of modern jazz, Cyminology is one of its best finds in recent years. As Ney is an album that speaks across borders with quiet but nevertheless passionate beauty.“ All About Jazz New York, Mai 2009&A genuinely multi-national band with an iranian singer performing in Farsi, Cyminology do much sum up ECM's vision. The group's all-too-short set proved a confident, assured debut. The tunes, written mostly by the captivating vocalist Cymin Samawatie, are astonishingly lovely and Samawatie's stagecraft is something to behold but Cyminology are much more than singer and backing band. This is a group where each musician really listens and responds in the moment. It was lovely to watch how they revelled in the act of communication with an audience. Truly special.“ Jazzwise, Mai 2009
„As Ney ECM: Cyminology is a quartet whose ethnic mix embraces Iran, Germany, France and India. And though its leadar, singer and composer Cymin Samawatie, sings in Farsi and uses some texts by 13th and 14th century Persian poets, musically its roots are in jazz, which is where Benedikt Jahnel (piano/composer), Ralf Schwarz (bass) and Ketan Bhati (drums/percussion) share common ground with their leader. The results are often striking. Samawatie has a pure, direct vocal style, unadorned yet expressive, and Jahnel's choices as accompanist and soloist are spare and telling. The quartet, despite its ethnic diversity, delivers remarkably unified performances even when stretching out. Restraint, rather than overt emotion, is their way. Yet, on a CD full of a uniquely beautiful melancholy, the impression persists that they have a broader range than is disclosed here.“ IIrish Times: RAY COMISKEY. This week's jazz CDs reviewed, May 2009
„… a quartet, which successfully combines the lyric and musical culture of ancient persia with the advantages of jazz. (…) There hardly seems to be a better way to build bridges between such different cultues. (…) A real benefit for contemporary jazz in the German music scene“ Jazzpodium, October 2005
„For many years, English has been the primary and dominant language of jazz singing, but that doesn't mean that vocal jazz necessarily has to be performed in English. In fact, meaningful vocal jazz has been performed in languages ranging from Portuguese (Flora Purim) to Swedish (Jeanette Lindström) to Polish (Grazyna Auguscik). If rock en español can be a huge phenomenon in the rock world and hip-hoppers in Paris can earn a living rapping in French, is there any reason why vocal jazz shouldn't be multilingual? There isn't, and on Bemun, the language that singer Cymin Samawatie (who calls her group Cyminology) uses to perform vocal jazz is Persian/Iranian -- not exactly a language that an abundance of jazz singers have used to express themselves, but a language that works well for Samawatie on appealing post-bop items such as „Meloton, “ „Gosara, “ and „Bi Deldari“ (all of which she either wrote or co-wrote). Some English-speaking jazz enthusiasts will no doubt pass on this 2006 recording because they don't understand Persian/Iranian, which is regrettable because Samawatie is undeniably expressive regardless of whether or not one understands the words she is singing (although Double Moon Records does provide English translations of the lyrics for those who want to read them). While some will describe this 58-minute CD as post-bop, others will call it world jazz because of the Persian/Iranian influence that Samawatie brings to the table -- and truth be told, both terms are applicable. This fine album is happily recommended to anyone who is seeking something fresh and intriguing from vocal jazz.“ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
„The band Cyminology proves, that music can glow and still not „explode“. Musically this multinational project is nothing but pure joy.“ Jazzzeitung, October 2005
„The band Cyminology creates a magical feel that makes your face smile and your feet tap. Their music is full of sensitive interaction between the four musicians and inspires with the fascinating voice of Cymin Samawaite and subtle dynamics which automatically make you hush until the last note has faded away.“ Jazzthing, April 2005
„Cymin Samawatie elates the audience with wide-ranging compositions between latin music, 15/8 time and slow waltz.“ Jazzthetik, September 2003
„The interplay between the musicians is flawless. (…). Every mood, every timbre of the music gets under your skin. (…) Cyminology´s poetic, virtuoso and spontaneous performance swept the audience off their feet.“ Göttinger Tageblatt, March 2006
„Cyminology touched the listener with musical versions of Persian lyric which literally came alive in Cymin Samawatie´s vocal interpretations and her three excellent musical accompanists.“ Passauer Neue Presse, March 2006
„…the band´s music with the sounds of the Orient combined to jazzy harmonics and driving rhythms accomplishes, what politicians have miserably failed in: a fruitful togetherness of western and easten culture.“ Osnabrücker Zeitung, October 2005
„...(an) impulsive mixture of ancient Persian lyric and contemporary jazz (…) a surprisingly exciting musical adventure…“ Berliner Zeitung, April 2005
„...managed to build bridges between different cultures.“ Berliner Morgenpost, May 2005
„It’s beautiful to hear.“ Süddeutsche Zeitung, April 2005
„Samawatie is a vocalist who permanently manages to bring variation and progression to her songs: from lascivious tenderness over moments of rougher and darker sounds up to flashy, screaming accents.“ Hildesheimer Zeitung, June 2005
„Cyminology definitely deserves to be seen and listened to.“ Hildesheimer Zeitung, June 2005
„...imaginative music, without any barriers between Orient and Occident. The smooth melismatic phrasing of Persian music, which the singer uses, adds a great lightness, openness and tender lyricism. The fragile poetry of Persian origin also fires the imagination of the other musicians.“ Die Rheinpfalz, April 2005
„...a masterpiece of modern vocal jazz“ www.sound-and-image.de, April 2005
„....(Cyminology) demonstrates great willingness to establish a dialogue between different cultures which nowadays surely is more important than ever before. Rarely has a debut record of an artist convinced me more than this one. If we would rate records in „stars“, I would give a whole heaven to this one!“ Jazz Corner, April 2005
„What vocalist and composer Cymin Samawatie, pianist Benedikt Jahnel, bass player Ralf Schwarz and drummer Sebastian Schmidt had to offer, was a peak performance in regard to innovation, virtuosity and vocal perfection. The original compositions and the live performance of these pieces point out the awesome musicality of the band.“ Jazzzeitung, May 2003
