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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 2011
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.
From: A. Papazian
John Fordham
guardian.co.uk
Thursday 8 September 2011 21.32 BST
Buy the CDTigran HamasyanA FableEmarcy 2011
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.
From: A. Papazian