Rhythms of the Heart: An Evening of Persian Percussion & Classical Evening Join us for a joyful and inspiring evening of music as The Pezhham Students’ Tombak Ensemble brings the ancient rhythms of Persia to life. Under the direction of master percussionist Pezhham Akhavass, these talented young musicians will showcase their dedication and passion through the dynamic sounds of the tombak. The concert also features a special Persian Classical Duet performance by Pezhham Akhavass on Tombak, and Ashkan Ghafouri on Tar, blending intricate rhythms with the soulful beauty of Persian classical music. 📅 Saturday, September 6th, 2025🕢 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM (Doors open at 7:00 PM) Kid-friendly event – bring your family and friends! Celebrate culture, creativity, and community in an evening that’s perfect for all ages. We can’t wait to see you there!

Join our Tombak group lessons where you will learn the fundamentals of playing the Tombak, including technique, rhythm patterns, and basic improvisation. In these lessons, you’ll be guided by an experienced instructor passionate about Persian music and culture. This class is designed to introduce you to the essential elements of Tombak playing while offering opportunities for creative expression. This beginner-friendly Tombak course is perfect for those new to hand drumming, offering a supportive group environment where you’ll learn alongside fellow music enthusiasts. You’ll explore the cultural significance of the Tombak in Persian music, while developing essential hand techniques, rhythm exercises, and coordination, focusing on foundational rhythms like 6/8 and 4/4 time signatures. As you progress, you’ll improvise, creating unique rhythmic expressions. Tombaks are provided for the class, and there will be opportunities to showcase your skills in a group performance or jam session at the end of the course. The cost for each 2-hour Tombak session is $100. If you're interested, please send a message to secure your spot. Payments can be made via Venmo, PayPal, or cash. We look forward to having you join the class! For more information and to register, please send a message. The address will be provided once your payment is confirmed. We look forward to having you in the class!

This event strives to showcase the rich history, culture, music, and art of Iran, to support the next young generation of artists living in the United States, and dedicates to all great master Iranian Musicians.

The School of Music, the Center for Iranian Diaspora Studies at SFSU, the Poetry Center and Diaspora Arts Connection proudly present "Music for A New Year's Liberation: To the People of Iran (Navaye Mardom)." Join us Thursday, March 16, 2023, from 7-9:30 PM, in Knuth Hall, Creative Arts Building 140, at San Francisco State University. This event is free and open to the public. "Navaye Mardom-To the People of Iran Music for a New Year's Liberation" is directed by Dr. Hafez Modirzadeh, School of Music. Featured Musicians: Pezhham Akhavass (tombak), Samandar Deghani (tar, daf), Nasim Gorgani (daf), Sirvan Manhoobi (Üd), Hafez Modirzadeh (saxophone), John-Carlos Perea (cedar flute, vocals, drum, bass), Shahin Shahbazi (tar), and Ramin Zoufonoun (Persian-tuned piano). Made possible with the support of an "Extraordinary Ideas" grant from the College of Liberal & Creative Arts, with additional support from the Department of History, the Department of Philosophy, the Poetry Center, and the Center for Iranian Diaspora Studies, San Francisco State University. Co-sponsored by Diaspora Arts Connection.

Join us for an evening of Iranian Classical Music concert and a short student recital. The concert will be in two parts, featuring a student recital and Iranian traditional music.

Pezhham Akhavass, Tombak, Daf, Music Direcor Sahba Motallebi, Tar Pezhham's Tombak and Daf Students

The Pezhham Akhavass students appearing in this concert are ages four and above. This event will be the second opportunity after our last concert on August 24, 2019. This event strives to showcase Iran's rich history, culture, music, and art and support the next generation of artists living in the United States. This event is a community-based celebration featuring some of the foremost artists in the U.S. today. Thank you for supporting this wonderful evening of music and art.

The concert starts at 7 pm and the doors open at 6:30 pm.

A few tickets will be available at the door for $50 CASH ONLY.

For more information about joining our next concert as part of the Tombak and Daf Ensemble, please get in touch with www.Pezhham.com.

Wearing mask is required during the show, and Do Not forget to bring your proof of vaccination.

Traditional Iranian music by Pezhham Akhavass, an Iranian musician and percussionist. He will introduce the basis of Tomback (an ancient type of goblet drum from Persia) and will perform along with his father, Master Mostafa Akhavass, and his students. https://internationalhousedavis.org/event/immigration-and-identity/

Zakir Hussain Presents Megh Doot Taufiq Qureshi on Djembe Anantha R. Krishnan on Mridangam Pezhham Akhavass on Tombak & Daf Ajay Joglekar on Harmonium for The Trustees of Shriller Prithviraj Kapoor Memorial Trust & Research Foundation &Kunal Kapoor. Performing with Ustad Zakir Hussain for the online concert and live, at the 38th Prithvi Theatre Memorial concert, which had audiences in India, and we broadcast from San Francisco, CA.

The concert will be a Persian percussion solo include Tombak (which is a goblet drum), Daf (Kurdish Iranian frame drum), and some other frame drums percussion. The solo will include mostly improvisation and fixed compositions in Persian rhythm.

Masters of Percussion US Tour 2021

Ustad Zakir Hussain (Indian tabla), Pezhham Akhavass (tombak and daf Persian percussion), Marcus Gilmore (drums) Abbos Kosimov (doyra and Uzbek percussion), and Anantha Krishna on Mirdangam in a lively showcase of the vibrancy of Indian music.

1. Thursday April 8, 2021 Philadelphia, PA (Annenberg Center)
2. Friday April 9, 2021 Washington DC (Strathmore Hall, Bethesda)
3. Monday April 12, 2021 Durham, NC
4. Tuesday April 13, 2021 Norfolk, VA
5. Wednesday April 14, 2021 St Louis, MO (Sheldon Theater)
6. Sunday April 18, Auburn, Al

Friday March 26, 2021 at 7:00 pm https://cap.ucla.edu/calendar/details/hussain

April 8, Philadelphia PA (Annenberg Center) https://annenbergcenter.org/event/zakir-hussain-974

April 13, Norfolk, VA (The Virginia Arts Festival) https://www.vafest.org

St Louis, MO (Sheldon Theater)

More information will be published soon.

Persian Art Night the combination of classical music and fine arts, calligraphy and painting. Music along with live painting by the master artist, Mostafa Akhavass, Shahin Shahbazi, and Pezhham Akhavass. The performance, which will feature percussion and stringed instruments, promises to showcase these acclaimed artists’ lifelong study of classical, modern and folk music and improvisation. Mostafa Akhavass is a Persian master artist in the forms of traditional crafts such as gilding ”tazheeb” (decorative illustration and inscriptions), calligraphy, Persian enameling “minakari”, ceramic, and Persian miniature painting. Featuring: Ostad Mostafa Akhavass - calligraphy and painting Shahin Shahbazi - tar, setar Pezhham Akhavass - tombak, daf

We are very sorry to announce that the duet concert for Saturday, March 14 has been cancelled and will postpone due to concerns by our decision regarding the Coronavirus Pandemic!

We will post the rescheduling of this event! Stay safe!! This collaboration between two world-class musicians from Iran brings their lifetime experience in music and art through their heart and friendship. Pezhham Akhavass and Navid Kandelousi will create moments and flow of traditional, folk, and modern Persian music rooted in radif—a collection of Iranian melodies in the modal system—and poetry based on circle rhythmic patterns. Doors Open at 7:00 pm. Tickets Online $35 and $40 at the door.

Join us for a MasterClass with Pezhham Akhavass, focus on Iranian percussion (Daf & Tombak), and rhythm theory. Advance ticket purchase is highly recommended due to limited space.

We are very sorry to announce that the duet concert for Sunday, March 8th has been cancelled and will postpone due to concerns by the Smithsonian decision regarding the Coronavirus Pandemic!

We will post the rescheduling of this event! Stay safe!!

Concerts In Celebration Of The Persian New Year Nowruz!

Sunday, March 8th, 2020: Three Performances @ 12:30PM, 2:30PM & 4:30PM - In The Freer, Meyer Auditorium

https://asia.si.edu/events-overview/performances/?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D141821465&fbclid=IwAR3lI7iNXEgs2gF_0oB-ukqS8sHjeBnD8R3LJQ67cNkx3q0uyJ8KjCiR0SM

The collaboration between two world-class musicians from Iran who will bring their life time experience in music/art through their heart and friendship. Pezhham Akhavass and Navid Kandelousi will create moments and flow of traditional, folk and modern Persian music which have root in Radif (Collection of Iranian melodies in the modal system) and poetry (Based on circle rhythmic patterns).

This collaboration between two world-class musicians from Iran brings their lifetime experience in music and art through their heart and friendship. Pezhham Akhavass and Navid Kandelousi will create moments and flow of traditional, folk, and modern Persian music rooted in radif—a collection of Iranian melodies in the modal system—and poetry based on circle rhythmic patterns.

Sahba is joined by Iranian percussion master Pezhham Akhavass, a modern day virtuoso of the Persian tombak and daf, who has performed with the likes of Hossein Alizadeh, Aliakbar Moradi and Yo-Yo Ma.

Join us for an evening of Iranian Classical Music concert and a short student recital. The concert will be in two parts, featuring a student recital and an Iranian traditional music performed by professional musicians, Pezhham Akhavass on tombak and daf, Sara Saberi on oud, and Milad Shirani on tar. Also three vocalist will join the performance in the half of the concert. The Pezhham Akhavass students appearing in this concert are ages four and above. This event will be the first opportunity for some of the music students to showcase what they have learned. This event strives to showcase the rich history, culture, music and art of Iran and to support the next generation of artists living in the United States. This event is a community based celebration featuring some of the foremost artists in the US today. Thank you for supporting this wonderful evening of music and art.

Tickets: Online $35, and $40 at the door (cash only).

Doors open at 6:30 pm and concert starts at 7:00 pm.

The venue is ADA compliant and accessible for all. Please confirm you arrival time to provide the wheelchair lift.

For more information please contact ‪(415) 508-8540.

Featuring, Pezhham Akhavass on Percussion, Behfar Bahadoran on Tar and Farzin Dehghan on Kemenche

In this event the three artists will be showcasing their contemporary take on the art of improvisation based on “Radif” (the repertoire of Iranian modal music) performed on three of the main instruments from this tradition. There will be solo and group performances by Pezhham Akhavass on Tombak and Daf, Behfar Bahadoran on Tar and Setar, and Farzin Dehghan on Kamancheh.

World Percussion Art Festival, San Francisco, July 21-22, 2018