The reference for traditional and authentic Iranian music
The reference for traditional and authentic Iranian music
Jalil Shahnaz was born in Isfahan in 1300 AH (1921 AD). Almost all members of his family were familiar with music and reached the level of mastery in various fields of art, including Tar, Setar, Santur, and Kamancheh. His father, “Shaban Khan,” had a great interest in authentic Iranian music and played Setar and Santur in addition to the Tar, which was his specialty. His uncle, Gholamreza Sarang (Sarenj), was also a Kamancheh player.
Jalil Shahnaz became interested in music from childhood and began playing the Tar with his older brother Hossein Shahnaz, who played the instrument well. Jalil’s great dedication and talent were such that in his youth he became one of the good players of Isfahan.
In the book “Iranian Musicians” written by Pejman Akbarzadeh, it is stated: “Shahnaz started playing in Isfahan Radio in 1328 AH (1949 AD) and in 1336 AH (1957 AD) he was invited to Tehran by the Radio Organization and participated in various programs such as Golha program, Hossein Yahaghi Orchestra, etc. as a soloist and co-player. He also performed many concerts inside and outside Iran in the “Yaran Salis” group (together with Taj Isfahani and Hassan Kasaei) and the Iranian Music Masters Group. Shahnaz also had an active presence in the Shiraz Arts Festival programs.”
During his artistic life, this Tar player has collaborated with artists of the country including Faramarz Payvar, Habibullah Badiei, Parviz Yahaghi, Homayoun Khorram, Ali Tajvidi, Mansour Saremi, Reza Varzandeh, Amir Naser Eftetah, Jahangir Malek, Asadullah Malek, Hassan Kasaei, Seyed Mohammad Mousavi, Hossein Tehrani, Taj Isfahani, Adib Khansari, Mahmoudi Khansari, Abdulwahab Shahidi, Akbar Golpayegani, Hossein Khajeh Amiri, Mohammad Reza Shajarian, Shahram Nazeri, Hassan Zirak, Ali-Asghar Shahzeidi, Tabatabai, Mohammad Esfahani and Ali Rostamian.
In the 1360s AH (1980s AD), along with Faramarz Payvar (Santur), Ali Asghar Bahari (Kamancheh), Mohammad Esmaili (Tombak) and Seyed Mohammad Mousavi (Ney), he formed the “Iranian Music Masters Group” and traveled to European, Asian and American countries with this group. The album “Concert of Iranian Music Masters” with the voice of Shahram Nazeri is one of the results of this collaboration.
In 1383 AH (2004 AD), he was selected as a lasting figure of art and music. Also, on 27 Tir 1383 AH (July 18, 2004 AD), a first-class artistic degree (equivalent to a doctorate) was awarded to Jalil Shahnaz in honor of a lifetime of artistic activity. In 1387 AH (2008 AD), Mohammadreza Shajarian named the group he was working with in honor of Jalil Shahnaz, Shahnaz Group.
Jalil Shahnaz, in addition to playing the Tar, which was his specialty, was also familiar with playing the Setar, Violin, Santur, Tombak.
The works collected from this artist on the private site are as follows:
