TEHRAN – Iran’s music community has been struck by the loss of three prominent figures from different generations and genres in the past few days: Bahman Rajabi, a pioneering tonbak (goblet drum) virtuoso; Jamshid Azizkhani, a celebrated Kurdish singer and composer; and Omid Jahan, a well-known pop singer.

Bahman Rajabi passed away at the age of 86 on Wednesday, September 10, following a heart condition at his home.

Born in Rasht, Gilan Province, Rajabi began his professional career in 1971, focusing on solo and duo performances on the tonbak and its integration with melodic instruments.

He is widely remembered for his signature composition “Dialogue of Left and Right”, published in the second volume of his tonbak method. 

His playing can be heard in landmark albums such as “Savaran-e Dasht-e Omid” (composed by Hossein Alizadeh) and “Golchin 1 and 2” (composed by Reza Shafieian).

Beyond performance, Rajabi authored key instructional works including “Tonbak and a Perspective on Rhythm from Different Angles” and the two-volume “Tonbak Method”, which remain essential references for students of the instrument.

On Thursday, September 11, Jamshid Azizkhani passed away in a Tehran hospital at the age of 68 after a period of illness. 

Born in Kermanshah, the center of Kermanshah Province, Azizkhani began his career in 1974 and quickly rose to prominence, winning first place in singing at the Ramsar music camp.

His early works, “Safarnameh-ye Kurdistan” and “Rivar”, released in the years following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, received wide acclaim. During the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war, Azizkhani became a familiar voice on regional radio, performing dozens of Kurdish and Persian songs dedicated to the fighters and displaced communities of western Iran.
Over the course of his career, he produced nearly 800 pieces, many reflecting the joys and sorrows of the Zagros people. His contributions were instrumental in preserving and promoting Kurdish musical heritage while also shaping Iran’s broader folk and national music landscape.

The most recent shock came with the sudden death of Omid Jahan, who passed away on Saturday, September 13, in Bam, Kerman Province, at the age of 44, following a heart attack. 

He had just performed at the opening night of the city’s Date Festival on Friday night when he collapsed as he was leaving the venue. Despite repeated resuscitation efforts, he passed away in the hospital the following morning.

Born in Abadan, Khuzestan Province, Jahan was the son of the late Mahmoud Jahan, a legendary figure in southern Iranian music. Growing up under his father’s influence, he began his career in the early 2000s. His breakthrough came in 2004 with the release of “Pesare Jonoobi” (“Southern Boy”), followed by the 2006 album “Papati”, which cemented his status as a household name in Iranian pop music.

Jahan’s energetic style and deep connection to the music of the South won him a wide fan base, especially among younger listeners. His body will be transferred to Tehran for burial in the Artists’ Section of Behesht-e Zahra Cemetery.

Photo: From left: Jamshid Azizkhani, Bahman Rajabi, and Omid Jahan

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