Duende Flamenco

Alí Nourbakhsh (Spanish Version)

Ali began his relationship with percussion at the age of seven when he began playing the drumset and continued until he made the transition from sticks to hands in his first year of University after enrolling in a Djembe class taught by renown Djembefola, Monty Ellison. After one semester Ali gained an intermediate level of technique and bought his first Djembe to continue his studies on his own. One year and a half of self-teaching and learning brought him to the decision to go to Madrid, Espana to advance his technique and playability. It was here during this time period that Ali truly developed a profound relationship with flamenco, although his introduction to flamenco took place years earlier in his parents' home.

His family was a family of Disc Jockey’s and he grew up listening to music from all parts of the world, including sounds from his home country of birth: Iran. Classical and traditional songs of Iran filled his home with a sound so similar, in emotion and style of singing, to that of flamenco and sharing the influences of an origin in older Indian and Eastern music. Furthermore, his ears grew very accustomed to the sounds of flamenco as every weekend he would work for his father playing music for various occasions and an international audience. However, it was in Spain where he saw flamenco for the first time live.

When Ali was in Spain, he began attending concerts in Madrid, or he would spend time in the streets of Granada listening and studying flamenco guitarists that would meet and intend on putting the claps and rhythms in. He did the same in Andalusian bars filled with a gypsy population. When a good friend of his in Madrid saw how interested he was, she gave him his first Cajon as a gift and he began playing this marvelous music full of celebration, passion, romance, and sadness that invaded his soul. He returned to the United States and continued his studies, trying to further understand and play the different compases and palos of the art.

Ali forms part of the flamenco Group: Duende Flamenco. He also is an established artist and rapper in Hip-hop music and president of the global organization: Illhumannation. He still works for his father's business ( www.limozic.com ) playing music and driving limousines.