Monika Jalili “Élan”

Monika Jalili is perhaps the most interesting and talented singer of old and popular Iranian songs of the 1940s through 1970s – or songs before “Islamic Revolution.” Her beautiful and modern rendition of these songs brings back joy and nostalgia to all Iranians and even non-Iranians.

Beside her beautiful voice, Monika’s translation of some songs and singing them in English and occasionally in French has really added to her American fans and created a great deal of respect and admiration for her among Persian listeners. – CSiArts.com

Cultural Detente: Iranian Music Made in the US

“Monika Jalili and NoorSaaz burst upon the world music scene in 2005 with their eponymous CD mingling Persian folk standards with love songs from the thriving pop scene of pre-revolutionary Iran in the 1960s and 1970s.  The response to both the CD and live performances by the group has been tremendous, including over 350,000 hits on the webcast of NoorSaaz’s concert from Trinity Church in Manhattan in late 2005.” – Modern Mask, Journal of the Arts