Tigran Hamasyan: The Call Within (Nonesuch)
For his fourth release for Nonesuch, the Armenian pianist Tigran Hamasyan has stated that he chose to let his inner soul dictate the shape of … Read More “Tigran Hamasyan: The Call Within (Nonesuch)”
Reviews
Tigran Hamasyan: For Gyumri (Nonesuch)
Gyumri, Armenia, is the city where Tigran Hamasyan was born nearly 31 years ago and where he first placed his hands on the keys of a piano at age 9. In his teens his family moved to L.A., but Hamasyan always retained a soft spot for his homeland. He’s since returned to Armenia, and he … Read More “Tigran Hamasyan: For Gyumri (Nonesuch)”
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Tigran Hamasyan: An Ancient Observer (Nonesuch)
An Ancient Observer is two different kinds of solo album in one. Most of its tracks adhere to the traditional definition of one musician playing one instrument; Tigran Hamasyan’s is the piano, and he plays it extraordinarily well. The other tracks invite the listener to question the definition of “solo.” Although Hamasyan is still the … Read More “Tigran Hamasyan: An Ancient Observer (Nonesuch)”
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Hamasyan, Henriksen, Aarset, Bang: Atmosphères
In our brave new digital world, it is not always possible to tell who is playing what. On the back cover of this two-CD set, the instruments attributed to the quartet are piano (Hamasyan), trumpet (Henriksen), guitar (Aarset) and “live sampling, samples” (Bang). But photos in the liner booklet suggest that Henriksen and Aarset are … Read More “Hamasyan, Henriksen, Aarset, Bang: Atmosphères”
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Tigran Hamasyan: Mockroot
Tigran Hamasyan’s music exists in its own universe, and on Mockroot that means distancing itself even from the pianist’s eccentric self-described “electro-acoustic Armenian rock.” The Armenian-American’s sixth album holds on to the rock trappings in some places (especially its closing twofer, “The Grid” and “Out of the Grid”), but more often draws on new age … Read More “Tigran Hamasyan: Mockroot”
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Tigran Hamasyan: A Fable
Tigran Hamasyan’s fourth album, a vibrant solo recording drawing from the music and poetry of his native Armenia, further solidifies the acclaim the 24-year-old pianist has garnered since his teens. While demonstrating his monster chops, the emphasis here is on simple, captivating melodies-both traditional songs and original compositions, imbued with a sense of veneration and … Read More “Tigran Hamasyan: A Fable”
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Live Review: Tigran Hamasyan in Paris
By the time Tigran Hamasyan won the prestigious Monk piano competition in 2006, he had already dominated similar face-offs in Monaco and Montreux. In Moscow, nearer his native Armenia, he placed third. It’s an enviable track record for any rising musician, much less one who is just 20. Of course, Hamasyan isn’t the only precocious … Read More “Live Review: Tigran Hamasyan in Paris”
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