Beirut was originally formed as a solo project by trumpeter Zach Condon (born on
13 February 1986), but gradually expanded into one of the world's most diverse
and wide-ranging bands, incorporating everything from Balkan folk songs to
western pop. Influenced by his father, Zach Condon's own roots are in jazz. As a
teenager in New Mexico he played in various jazz outfits before a visit to
Europe introduced him to different aspects of folk and world music. Returning
from Europe, he studied Portuguese and photography and started recording his
first album Gulag Orkestar in his bedroo...