Behzad profile picture

Behzad

I'm not a genius....or are I?

About Me

My family is from Kabul, Afghanistan. I was born in Hamburg, Germany. Grew up in Portland, Maine until I graduated high school; the best place on earth. I now live in northern VA outside of D.C. working as a professional flamenco guitarist and percussionist. I began playing percussion at the age of 10 and then flamenco guitar at the age of 14. The cajon followed soon after.I grew up in a very successful family restaurant. Today, I co-run a new restaurant with my family, and I plan to open my own someday. I can cook and know alot about food preparation (for someone who is not a cook), but hospitality is my thing.All pictures -unless specified- are courtesy of www.dcflamenco.com .

My Interests

Flamenco, percussion, jazz, drums, contemporary classical music, world music, performing arts, art, stand-up comedy (aficionado, but will never do it myself), the restaurant business. I am also fascinated with the idea of becoming a Foley Artist.

I'd like to meet:

James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, Camaron de la Isla, Pablo Picasso, Leonardo DaVinci, Dave Attell, distant relatives, Diego del Morao, Nina Pastori, Restaurateurs Danny Meyer, Ferran Adria, and Thomas Keller. There are alot of other flamenco people, but I have been very fortunate and have met many.

Music:

Flamenco, and atleast a little knowledge of any style of music you can think of. Also some present and past interests and influences have included a wide variety such as Dick Dale, The Germs, Ravi Shankar, Dmitri Shostakovich, Alice in Chains, Miles Davis, Paco de Lucia, Nine Inch Nails, and so on and on and on...

Movies:

Some Like It Hot, Rebel Without a Cause, History of the World: Part I, Young Frankenstein, Spaceballs, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Flamenco, The Decline of Western Civilization, The Boondock Saints, The Man Who Knew Too Little, Clueless, Dumb and Dumber, Tommy Boy, Black Sheep, and pretty much anything Jerry Lewis.

Television:

Seinfeld, The Simpsons, South Park, Family Guy, Futurama, Friends, Married...with Children, Good Eats, Top Chef, Ramsey's Boiling Points, Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, Top Gear, Flight of the Conchords.

Books:

Danny Meyer - Setting the Table, Heston Blumenthal - In Search of Perfection, Kurt Vonnegut - Slaughterhouse-Five.