Pournazeri formed the Shamss Ensemble with a vision of bringing back the lost art of Tanbour through compositions that fused the Tanbour with other traditional classical mode instruments.

He invited fellow musicians who were familiar playing such classical pieces, they eventually became a popular musical ensemble in Iran.

The Shamss Ensemble has performed at over 300 international venues and was on tour in the United States in 2008 during the month of October.

[4][5] Over the years, there have been more than fifty players and singers, the majority of whom were Pournazeri's students.

After the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, women were banned from performing solo in front of men—that includes singing or playing any instruments.