‘The World’s Fastest Fingers’: Percussionist Mohammad Reza Mortazavi
By Azadeh Karimi and Ali Eshtyagh
Mohammad Reza Mortazavi is an Iranian percussionist once described by a German TV channel as "the fastest fingers in the world." Growing up in Isfahan, he began taking drum lessons when he was six years old, and was so prodigiously gifted that his tombak (percussion) teacher gave up teaching him after three years. Four years later,
Mohammad Reza Mortazavi is an Iranian percussionist once described by a German TV channel as "the fastest fingers in the world." Growing up in Isfahan, he began taking drum lessons when he was six years old, and was so prodigiously gifted that his tombak (percussion) teacher gave up teaching him after three years. Four years later,
Iranian Singer Cancels Concert After Female Players Banned from Stage
Benyamin Bahadori – an Iranian pop singer, composer and songwriter – has refused to perform at a concert in Kerman, capital of Kerman Province, after female members of his music group were prevented from...
All About Googoosh: Pop Superstar Embarks on Concert Tour
Googoosh is one of the most celebrated and influential Iranian pop artists of all time: a national treasure to generations of Iranians, and hugely popular in Central Asia and the Middle East.
Googoosh is marking...
Getty Villa’s Open-Air Persian Concerts Feature Fared Shafinury, Awardwinning Setar Virtuoso
By Fred Parvaneh
On June 25, 2022, Farhang Foundation, a nonprofit organization established to celebrate and promote Iranian art and culture, presented their second concert in a series at the Getty Villa’s open-air amphitheater. The...
Iranian-Irish Fusion Band Nava Is Nominated for Irish Folk Award; We Meet Co-Founder Coohe
By Kayhan Life Staff
Nava is a four-person Iranian-Irish musical group based in Dublin. Formed in 2016 by Irish folk and bluegrass musicians Paddy Kiernan and Niall Hughes, and Iranian born brothers Shahab and Shayan...
New iPhone 7 Commercial Features Music by Iranian-American Rostam Batmanglij
From the Cookie Monster to Taylor Swift, Apple has used endless ways to convince us to buy their products. Now, the new iPhone7 commercial features a finely crafted track titled "In a Blackout" – co-written...
Israeli-Iranian Singer Maureen Nehedar Releases One Bestselling Album After Another
By Ahmad Rafat
Thirty-eight-year-old Maureen Nehedar was only two-and-a-half when she emigrated with her family from Isfahan to Israel. It was during the early years of the Revolution, when many Persian Jews were leaving their homeland. Maureen and her family were determined not to forget their roots.
Thirty-eight-year-old Maureen Nehedar was only two-and-a-half when she emigrated with her family from Isfahan to Israel. It was during the early years of the Revolution, when many Persian Jews were leaving their homeland. Maureen and her family were determined not to forget their roots.
EXCLUSIVE: The Sweet Destiny of Arash Sobhani, The Kiosk Band Leader Speaks to...
By Ahmad Rafat
Arash Sobhani is the founder of the pioneering Iranian rock group Kiosk. An architecture graduate, he formed his band before moving to the U.S. Kiosk was one of the prominent bands in...
Remembering Lily Afshar, Master of Classical Guitar, University of Memphis Professor
By Nazanine Nouri
The internationally renowned classical guitarist Lily Afshar passed away at the age of 63 on October 24 following a long battle with illness. She was a hugely gifted and passionate instrumentalist, and...
Iranian Pianist Arash Rokni Wins Second Place in Bach Competition
Iranian musician Arash Rokni has won the second prize in the piano section of the 2018 Johann Sebastian Bach competition, held between July 11 and 21 in Leipzig, Germany.
Mr. Rokni attended the School Of...
