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Tigran: A Fable - review(Emarcy)
John Fordham
guardian.co.uk,
Thursday 8 September 2011 21.32 BST
Buy the CDTigran HamasyanA FableEmarcy
Tell us what you think: Rate and review this albumTigran Hamasyan is a
25-year-old Armenian-born pianist brought up in LA. He has already won
some big jazz-piano prizes, and the fact he looks like a young Bob
Dylan probably won't do his prospects any harm, either. Listening to
his account of Someday My Prince Will Come on this mostly solo set - a
mix of Chick Corea's gliding touch and his own darker melodic
atmosphere - it isn't hard to tell why Hamasyan floored the judges.
That's the only jazz standard on this set, however, the rest being
folk originals or pieces influenced by his Armenian childhood. Fans of
Avishai Cohen will warm to this newcomer's song-rooted melodic sense:
he likes embroidering gentle folk melodies with dazzling instrumental
variations and lilting singing. The songs unfold over rolling ostinato
patterns or climax in chord clamours, and some are wistful and
mystical. A few are ecstatic dances, such as the galloping Carnaval,
and the vivacious Kakavik (The Little Partridge) with its tireless
left-hand propulsion. Hamasyan can be jazzier and more improv-oriented
than on this autobiographical journey, and A Fable may veer toward the
fey for some. But stories from this year's Montreux festival of his
performance augur very well for his future.
John Fordham
guardian.co.uk,
Thursday 8 September 2011 21.32 BST
Buy the CDTigran HamasyanA FableEmarcy
Tell us what you think: Rate and review this albumTigran Hamasyan is a
25-year-old Armenian-born pianist brought up in LA. He has already won
some big jazz-piano prizes, and the fact he looks like a young Bob
Dylan probably won't do his prospects any harm, either. Listening to
his account of Someday My Prince Will Come on this mostly solo set - a
mix of Chick Corea's gliding touch and his own darker melodic
atmosphere - it isn't hard to tell why Hamasyan floored the judges.
That's the only jazz standard on this set, however, the rest being
folk originals or pieces influenced by his Armenian childhood. Fans of
Avishai Cohen will warm to this newcomer's song-rooted melodic sense:
he likes embroidering gentle folk melodies with dazzling instrumental
variations and lilting singing. The songs unfold over rolling ostinato
patterns or climax in chord clamours, and some are wistful and
mystical. A few are ecstatic dances, such as the galloping Carnaval,
and the vivacious Kakavik (The Little Partridge) with its tireless
left-hand propulsion. Hamasyan can be jazzier and more improv-oriented
than on this autobiographical journey, and A Fable may veer toward the
fey for some. But stories from this year's Montreux festival of his
performance augur very well for his future.