Ali Akbar Moradi is Iran's leading tambour player.



Born in Kermanshah in 1957, Ali Akbar Moradi is the leading tanbur player from Kurdistan, Iran. He began playing tanbur at the age of six. His grandfather loved the tanbur and encouraged the young Moradi to play. Teachers would come to their house to give lessons on the tanbur, and by the time Moradi was 10, he was considered an accomplished tanbur player. Throughout his youth he studied with various masters of the instrument until he was accepted as a virtuoso. From 12 years on Moradi sought and took lessons from the grand masters of Kurdish tanbur: Sayyed Veli Husseini, Sayyed Mirza Khafashyan, Sayyed Mahmoud Alevi, Allahmouradi Hamedi, who were also all vocalists. By the age of 30 he completed learning the entire 72 maghams played on tanbur.



Mr. Moradi's professional career began in 1971 as a member of the first tanbur ensemble in Kermanshah. He has won many awards including two honorary diplomas at major music festivals in Iran. Moradi has performed as a soloist and with ensembles in festivals throughout the world. He has a unique style that sets him apart from other players of this instrument .



Presently Mr. Moradi is preparing the complete 72 maghams of Kurdish tanbur for teaching purposes. He teaches tanbur in Kermanshah and every two weeks he travels to Tehran to give lessons. In February 1999, Mr. Moradi toured US for concerts and lectures, and this recording was made during his visit of the San Francisco Bay Area.



Kurdish people live in Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Syria, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, and Afghanistan, and in many countries of Europe. They do not have an independent state of their own, although they number around 30 million. Present recording is entirely improvisational Kurdish music based on classical Kurdish Maghams. Ali Akbar Moradi and Pejman Hadadi had played together three times before this studio recording, which was done on February 22nd. 1999, Richmond California, in one sitting. I want to thank World Music Institute, NY, and Isabel Soffer for inviting Mr. Moradi to US and making this CD production possible.