TIGRAN HAMASYAN

MANIFESTE

Naïve Records

Tigran Hamasyan, piano/synthesizers/bass synth/vocals/whistling/producer/composer.

Tigran Hamasyan brings the deep spiritual traditions of his Armenian heritage to this cutting-edge progressive album. The pianist blends global music with jazz, along with progressive rock, in a unique and interesting way.

“Prelude for All Seekers” opens their album with Hamasyan’s fingers racing over the upper register of the piano in a repetitive arpeggio.  The melody repeats long enough to soak into my brain.  When the pianist begins to whistle along with the piano part, it invites me to hum along. There is an electronic element added to this arrangement that surprises and changes the texture from jazz to rock.

Track #2 settles down and brings a warmth and melodic integrity to his album.  The drums of Arthur Hnatek slap the beat into place, while the bass synthesizer is played by Tigran Hamasyan.  There are times when Hamasyan’s piano sounds like a morning bird trembling its song outside my window. But the thing that brings familiarity to this arrangement is when he once again adds his whistle to the melody.  It somehow brings comfort and makes me become more attentive to his song.

The title tune, “Manifeste” is more rock than jazz. It incorporates explosive sections, vocal chants, synthesizers, and various electronic sound designs.  This album adds an Armenian instrument called “Blul” that is a shepherd’s flute made from apricot wood or cane. It features eight holes, seven in front and one in the back of the instrument and spits warm, soft tones into the universe.  Another unusual instrument is the “daf.”   This is an ancient Persian drum used mostly in the Middle East, the Kurdish, and in Central Asian music.  It’s used quite a bit in Sufi rituals and is familiar to Armenian folk players.  The drum has a large, shallow wooden frame with a skin head made of fish or goat skin attached with metal rings.  It produces a jingling sound, similar to a tambourine. The percussion instrument has a wide circular size, three times larger than a tambourine.

All this music is composed by Tigran Hamasyan.  He incorporates unique instrumentation, electronics and choir vocals that sound harmonious and lovely. On “Seven Sorrows” Tigran’s piano is king, soloing in a very improvised way and clearly displaying his talents. Artyom Manukyan’s talent on the cello adds depth to this arrangement.

Written, played and produced by Tigran Hamasyan, this project is quite different from most of the albums I’ve been listening to. His publicist described It as a blend Armenian folk melodies with a modern jazz premise, merging with the mythical to represent a spiritual declaration with sonic innovation.

TIGRAN HAMASYAN BAND: Tigran Hamasyan, piano/synthesizers/bass synth/vocals/whistling/producer/composer; Marc Karapetian & Evan Marien, bass; Matt Garstka & Nate Wood, drums; Arthur Hnatek, drums/ electronics/ drum programming; Nick Lierandi, guitar; Artyom Manukyan, cello; Hamin Honari, daf; Yessai Karapetian, blul; Daniel Melkonyan, trumpet; Yerevan State Chamber Choir (conducted by Kristina Voskanyan.  

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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