Shirzad Sharif

Being born and raised to highly acclaimed musical family in Iran which has nurtured the likes of the legendary Tar Grand Master Ostad Farhang Sharif, Shirzad was exposed to the intricacies of Persian classical music from early childhood and while in Iran studied the Tonbak drum under the direct tutelage of Tonbak Grand Master Ostad Bahman Rajabi.

Since then he has adapted his own unique style of playing enabling him to play more melodic sounding rhythms on the Tonbak while using both traditional Persian and non-traditional Persian techniques and possibilities.

Shirzad also plays the Persian Daf frame drum & is an accomplished sacred Kurdish lute (Tanbur) performer as well. While in the United States Shirzad has learned and is continuing his studies of Arabic & Central Asian drumming and is further expanding his percussive knowledge to encompass all of the regions of the greater Middle East.

He is also the first percussionist to have composed a many number of percussive compositions using the three Arabic, Persian & Indian drums & rhythms, thus connecting and creating a rhythmic triangle within the three ancient “Silk Road” regions.

Among some of Shirzad’s most recent accomplishments is founding and directing the established bay area based ensembles; Som’ma and Dubsitan which have produced some of the most progressive & innovative Persian music ever heard till this day.

Using the rich Persian classical musical foundations and incorporating other musical forms & concepts to Persian classical music, Shirzad has been actively creating new music and projects strongly rooted in Persian classical music while still incorporating modern musical elements such as Jazz instrumentation & modalities, Avant-Garde Persian music, Persian Dub & Persian Electronica compositions.