Tigran Hamasyan

Tigran Hamasyan
Background information
Born July 17, 1987
Gyumri, Armenia
Genres Jazz
Occupation(s) Musician, composer
Instruments Piano, vocals
Years active 2001–present
Website tigranhamasyan.com

Tigran Hamasyan (Armenian: Տիգրան Համասյան; born July 17, 1987) is an Armenian jazz pianist. He plays mostly original compositions, which are strongly influenced by the Armenian folk tradition, often using its scales and modalities. In addition to Tigran's folk influence, he is much influenced by American jazz traditions and to some extent, as on his album Red Hail, by progressive rock. His solo album A Fable is most strongly influenced by Armenian folk music. Even on his most overt jazz compositions and renditions of well-known jazz pieces, his improvisations often contain embellishments based on scales from Middle Eastern/South Western Asian traditions.

Early life

Hamasyan was born in Gyumri, Armenia.[1] His father was a jeweler and his mother designed clothes.[2] At the age of three he began to play melodies on his family's piano, and he went to a music school from the age of six.[2] As a young child, he dreamed of being a thrash metal guitarist.[2]

He studied jazz from the age of nine, then tried to incorporate local folk melodies into jazz-form improvisations when in his teens.[2] At this stage, Hamasyan was influenced by Armenian composers Arno Babajanian and Avet Terterian.[2] Hamasyan, together with his parents and sister, moved to Yerevan when he was around 10,[3] and then to California when he was 16, where, as of October 2013, he continues to live.[2]

Career

Hamasyan recorded his first album, World Passion, at the age of 18.[2] He spent a lot of 2013 in Armenia, which helped develop his interest in its folk music.[2]

Awards

Discography

Albums

As leader

Year Album Record label Peak positions
BEL
(Wa)

[5]
FR
[6]
2006 World Passion Nocturne    
2007 New Era Plus Loin Music    
2009 Aratta Rebirth: Red Hail Plus Loin Music    
2011 A Fable Verve   70
2013 Shadow Theater Verve 127 63
2015 Mockroot Nonesuch Records    

EPs

Collaborations

References

  1. True, Chris. "Tigran Hamasyan: Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Lewis, John (October 24, 2013) "Tigran Hamasyan, the Pianist Giving Jazz an Armenian Twist". The Guardian.
  3. "Tigran Hamasyan Trio". Monterey Jazz Festival. Retrieved October 25, 2013.
  4. allaboutjazz.com Biography
  5. "Tigran discography". ultratop.be/fr/. Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  6. "Tigran discography". lescharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 September 2013.

External links