Ali Akbar Moradi & Yarsan Ensemble - LA (February 10, 2008)                       Ali Akbar Moradi is Iran's greatest living master of the tanbur. Known for his work as a soloist and with Shahram Nazeri and Kayhan Kalhor, he has created new interest for the tanbur - an ancient lute traditionally used in religious ceremonies. His program features meditative improvisations based on the repertoire of the Yarsan people, the followers of a mystical faith associated with Sufism, who live in western Iran. Moradi was born in 1957 in Guran, near the city of Kermanshah. He began playing the tanbur at the age of seven and studied with various masters, including Sayyed Hachem, Sayyed Mirza Khafashyan, Sayyed Mahmoud Alevi, Darvishi, Allahmouradi Hamedi, and Sayyed Vali Hosseyni. In 1973, he founded the first tanbur ensemble and began his touring career. By the age of 30 he had completed learning the entire 72 maqams (modes) of the Kurdish tanbur repertoire, making him perhaps the only living artist with this knowledge. His recordings include the acclaimed CD, In the Mirror of the Sky, with kamancheh virtuoso Kayhan Kalhor for World Village/Harmonia Mundi USA. He has performed as a soloist and with ensembles in festivals throughout the world, and teaches in Kermansheh and Tehran. Yarsan Music GroupPerformers: Ali Akbar Moradi (Tanbur, Vocals) Arash Moradi (Setar, Tanbur), Kourosh Moradi (Tanbur, Daf, Tombak, Vocals), Ulas Ozdemir (Baglama, Vocals)
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