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A MIX OF OLD AND NEW IN ARMENIAN JAZZ PIANIST TIGRAN'S 'MOCKROOT'
WBUR - The Artery
Feb 23 2015
Visit the website of Armenian jazz pianist Tigran Hamasyan, and you'll
see a menu item labeled "poems" leading to translations of Armenian
poems. Evidently, Tigran is heavily influenced by poetry. Listening
to his music, one can imagine the other potential menu items --
Armenian folk songs, progressive rock, heavy metal, electronic music,
jazz standards, classical piano -- the list would be endless, the
scope of Tigran's music is so broad.
Tigran, 27, will bring his trio, which includes Sam Minaie on bass
and Arthur Hnatek on drums, to the Regattabar on Feb. 24. The show
is part of a record release tour of "Mockroot," which was released by
Nonesuch Records in the U.S. on Feb. 17. The album features the trio
with Tigran on piano, voice, keyboards, synths and sound effects, as
well as vocalist Gayanee Movsisyan. Tigran also brings in his quintet
with Areni Agbabian on vocals, Ben Wendel on saxophone, Chris Tordini
on bass and Nate Wood on drums for "Song for Melan & Rafik".
Here's Tigran's quintet:
Tigran grew up in Armenia and studied classical piano, sang standards
with a big band and considered being a thrash metal guitarist before
focusing on jazz inspired interpretations of Armenian folk songs. He
moved to California as a teenager and studied at the University of
Southern California and then the New School in New York. When he was
still a teenager, Tigran won the prestigious Thelonious Monk jazz piano
competition and has five albums out as a leader, including "Mockroot."
Here's solo voice and piano performance:
Choppy, intricate rhythmic passages interlaced with tender, almost
hymnal sounding melodies. In a way, this is a musical reflection of
what Tigran says is the overarching theme of "Mockroot": "It's the
idea that nature is constantly mocking humanity. Whatever we impose
upon it, nature will always win. Technology has taken us into crazy
areas, but we need a core of humanity to make sense of the world."
Here's a preview of "Mockroot":
Variations of the tension that Tigran describes between nature and
humanity are present throughout "Mockroot." On "Kars I" we hear
the contrast of old and new: a famous Armenian folk song set to the
back-beat of Tigran's modern arrangement. There's the clash of acoustic
instruments like drum and piano with various electronic instruments.
A new project is already in the works for Tigran. Set to be released in
September 2015, "Luys i Luso" will feature Tigran on piano arranging
for the Yerevan state chamber choir. This is surely the beginning,
but, if we're measuring by experience and maturity, it feels like
the middle of an exciting career.
For videos, go to http://artery.wbur.org/2015/02/23/tigran-mockroot
WBUR - The Artery
Feb 23 2015
Visit the website of Armenian jazz pianist Tigran Hamasyan, and you'll
see a menu item labeled "poems" leading to translations of Armenian
poems. Evidently, Tigran is heavily influenced by poetry. Listening
to his music, one can imagine the other potential menu items --
Armenian folk songs, progressive rock, heavy metal, electronic music,
jazz standards, classical piano -- the list would be endless, the
scope of Tigran's music is so broad.
Tigran, 27, will bring his trio, which includes Sam Minaie on bass
and Arthur Hnatek on drums, to the Regattabar on Feb. 24. The show
is part of a record release tour of "Mockroot," which was released by
Nonesuch Records in the U.S. on Feb. 17. The album features the trio
with Tigran on piano, voice, keyboards, synths and sound effects, as
well as vocalist Gayanee Movsisyan. Tigran also brings in his quintet
with Areni Agbabian on vocals, Ben Wendel on saxophone, Chris Tordini
on bass and Nate Wood on drums for "Song for Melan & Rafik".
Here's Tigran's quintet:
Tigran grew up in Armenia and studied classical piano, sang standards
with a big band and considered being a thrash metal guitarist before
focusing on jazz inspired interpretations of Armenian folk songs. He
moved to California as a teenager and studied at the University of
Southern California and then the New School in New York. When he was
still a teenager, Tigran won the prestigious Thelonious Monk jazz piano
competition and has five albums out as a leader, including "Mockroot."
Here's solo voice and piano performance:
Choppy, intricate rhythmic passages interlaced with tender, almost
hymnal sounding melodies. In a way, this is a musical reflection of
what Tigran says is the overarching theme of "Mockroot": "It's the
idea that nature is constantly mocking humanity. Whatever we impose
upon it, nature will always win. Technology has taken us into crazy
areas, but we need a core of humanity to make sense of the world."
Here's a preview of "Mockroot":
Variations of the tension that Tigran describes between nature and
humanity are present throughout "Mockroot." On "Kars I" we hear
the contrast of old and new: a famous Armenian folk song set to the
back-beat of Tigran's modern arrangement. There's the clash of acoustic
instruments like drum and piano with various electronic instruments.
A new project is already in the works for Tigran. Set to be released in
September 2015, "Luys i Luso" will feature Tigran on piano arranging
for the Yerevan state chamber choir. This is surely the beginning,
but, if we're measuring by experience and maturity, it feels like
the middle of an exciting career.
For videos, go to http://artery.wbur.org/2015/02/23/tigran-mockroot