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Abadan Band members in Kharg Island
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Bygone era
Photo essay: Abadan Club Band
By Shahriar Tashnizi
Updated May 27, 2004
iranian.com unedited
My city Abadan was the city of hope. The city that it's citizen no matter
where they grow up, or how many continents travel to,
they always claimed their birth right and demanded to
be called ABADANI. Yes I was born in Abadan. A city
with diverse population from all over the nation. A
city that the Christian Muslim Jews and Bahai kids
could intermingle and play without a scent of
prejudice. A city that you could touch the walls of a
church and mosque in the same block. A city with so
much love and respect for the elders. A city that only
the warmth of its occupant heart surpassed its
warm summer days.
After my father left this world for the other, I was
going through his photo album. My father Khaibar
Tashnizi (Moradi) worked for the National Iranian Oil Company N.I.O.C. Under
the direction of music teacher Mr. Alexander (Shoora)
Michaelina. He also played trumpet in Abadan Club Band
that was his joy. As I was looking at the old photos of
his band, the memories of those days in Bashgah Abadan
club took flesh and took me back to days gone by. The days
that children with colorful clothes were running on
the green lawn, their parents enjoin the out door theater
and fragrant of flowers in the air gave you happiness.
I thought to myself that it would be a shame not to
share these old memories with the other Abadanis or
Iranians.
In the late 50's Mr. Alexander (Shoora) Michaelina a
music teacher in conjecture with N.I.O.C decided to
start a Music Class for its members and personnel.
Soon after Abadan Band Club was born. The move was so
revolutionary for it's time .It even captured the
attention of Shah him self.
I remember a meeting among
the director of Abadan Club and Dr. Iqbal, the head of N.I.O.C. (I was
6 years old then and sitting there, after all my dad was in
the band). He indicated that "His Majesty, Shah has heard
about this Band and wanted to hear it in his up
coming travel to Abadan". Three weeks later Shah came to Abadan for
visit and he saw the Band. I was also among the fans that day. According
to Dr.
Iqbal, His Majesty was very surprised that there was such a Jazz band in
Abadan! With
Iranian musicians! Nowhere
else in Iran was "Jazz" popular or even well known.
From then
on the Abadan Club Band was performing in many cities such as Ahvaz,
Gachsaran, Masjed
Solayman, Kharg Island and Tehran etc... Here I have some photos from
the era gone by which I hope you will like. If you happen to
know anyone in
photos,
I would
love to hear from you. Ten photos were featured last week.
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