The Armenian Jazz Band

[xBaron Dants]

Anyone ever heard of the Armenian Jazz Band, led by Armen Martirosyan? I just received their CD "Mountain Dance" for Christmas last night (by my very thoughtful mom) and am very impressed. I had never heard of them before, but they make some very good jazz remakes of armenian songs, with just the perfect touch of duduk, zourna, dhol and shvi. Too bad it is only 6 tracks long, but a couple of them are over 7 minutes long. It's the perfect music to hear while driving. :) .........or to listen in Poplavok with a bottle of Kotayk at hand. :D

[Arvestaked]

Isn't there a band led by Arto Tuncboyacyan with a similar name?

[xBaron Dants]

Originally posted by Arvestaked Isn't there a band led by Arto Tuncboyacyan with a similar name?

The Armenian Navy Band is the one led by Tuncboyacyan. I haven't heard their work yet. They say it's quite cool and original..

[Arvestaked]

Ah that's right. I've heard some of Arto's music. Very creative and progressive. I should take a listen to the jazz band.

[xBaron Dants]

Originally posted by Arvestaked Ah that's right. I've heard some of Arto's music. Very creative and progressive. I should take a listen to the jazz band.

Let me know what you think, because I will be the first to admit that I'm not a connaisseur in music. I just know that I like how it sounds, and doesn't give me the impression that it is of "cheap" quality, which is sometimes very obvious in music.

[Arvestaked]

I will let you know what I think. But it should not matter. Whether you like it or not is what matters. Music is not only for connoisseurs.

[xBaron Dants]

Originally posted by Arvestaked I will let you know what I think. But it should not matter. Whether you like it or not is what matters. Music is not only for connoisseurs.

Yes, I know. Otherwise I would have waited for other people to say something before I expressed my own opinion. :) However, it is always nice to hear other people's opinions, especially people who have a certain knowledge. Makes you realize things that you maybe wouldn't have thought of, and maybe gain a new appreciation for the music.

No matter what you say though, I will remain firm in my appreciation of this band....as witnessed by the fact that it is the 5th time I listen to it today. :p

[whitelotus]

Have you ever listened to Gary Kesayans music ?

hes a wonderful jazz musician , composer

ive gone to all of his concerts, hes awesome.

he usually has a group of jazz musicians he performes with , but sometimes they change, he has jazz singers come and sing some of his music. Its really great.

I think receintly he opened up a jazz club in armenia, yerevan.
and he tours with the band, goes back and forth a great deal.

[xBaron Dants]

Originally posted by whitelotus Have you ever listened to Gary Kesayans music ?

hes a wonderful jazz musician , composer

ive gone to all of his concerts, hes awesome.

he usually has a group of jazz musicians he performes with , but sometimes they change, he has jazz singers come and sing some of his music. Its really great.

I think receintly he opened up a jazz club in armenia, yerevan.
and he tours with the band, goes back and forth a great deal.

Nope, never heard of him actually. Any armenian influence in his music? Duduk and the like?

Another great jazz artist is Datevik Hovanisyan, daughter of Armenian musical goddess Ofelia Hambartzumian. She sings in english too, but her jazz remakes of Komitas tunes is really quite original and enjoyable. She played at the Montreal Jazz Fest a few years ago. She ended her show by singing "Kele Lao, Kele yertank mer Yergir". In the middle of downtown Montreal, surrounded by all those armenians, it was quite a powerful moment.

[whitelotus]

garik kesayan has a great deal of armenian influence in his music, all the melodies are armenian

as far as duduk, he doesnt use it in the music.

he has bass, jazz drums, sax and other instruments, he plays the piano, sometimes the organ with it

gary is pretty popular, if you live in the los angeles area.

[xBaron Dants]

Originally posted by whitelotus garik kesayan has a great deal of armenian influence in his music, all the melodies are armenian

as far as duduk, he doesnt use it in the music.

he has bass, jazz drums, sax and other instruments, he plays the piano, sometimes the organ with it

gary is pretty popular, if you live in the los angeles area.

I'm in Montreal. It's pretty hard keeping up with armenian music over here. Our repertoire is basically limited to Paul Baghdadlian and Harout Pamboukjian. :D

[whitelotus]

paul is a crack addict haha and he dances like an idiot :P he has psycho path hand movements lollllll :D

[xBaron Dants]

Originally posted by whitelotus paul is a crack addict haha and he dances like an idiot :P he has psycho path hand movements lollllll :D

loool. LIKE an idiot? He is the embodiement of idiocy.
He was the singer at some picnic in Montreal a few years ago, and got puled over by the cops for speeding. He said "Do you know who I am? I'm Paul! Armenians everywhere worship me".

Megha megha.

Had it been someone like Rouben Matevosian, I'd say that he is being a bit of an egomaniac, but would still forgive him. But PAUL? WORSHIPPED? For what? "aha yegav harsntsoon"?

Armenians should just STOP listening to idiots like this.

[ScavengerOfHumanSorrow]

Barondants: I'm really interested in hearing that album of yours. Sounds something that I'd love to check out. ;)

[TigranJamharian]

ah harout is the best. i dont know about paul. have any of you guys listened to Serart, that cd that arto and serj from soad made together. its really cool and i recomment it. the day i got it i listened to it like 6 times

[xBaron Dants]

Originally posted by ScavengerOfHumanSorrow Barondants: I'm really interested in hearing that album of yours. Sounds something that I'd love to check out. ;)

Haha. Meet me this friday at AGBU then. :D

[xBaron Dants]

Originally posted by TigranJamharian ah harout is the best. i dont know about paul. have any of you guys listened to Serart, that cd that arto and serj from soad made together. its really cool and i recomment it. the day i got it i listened to it like 6 times

Ah, Paul is just an idiot. :)

I was very intrigued by Serart, but never got to listening to it. What kind of music is it? Sounds like an interesting mix.

[TigranJamharian]

there arent that many Armenian influences in it but lots of african some latin and some really original music. its just really random music and really nice with minimal vocals and usually the vocals dont make much sense. really really cool stuff. if you want to download it off kazaa or something i recommend "facing the plastic" and "narina"

[xBaron Dants]

Originally posted by TigranJamharian there arent that many Armenian influences in it but lots of african some latin and some really original music. its just really random music and really nice with minimal vocals and usually the vocals dont make much sense. really really cool stuff. if you want to download it off kazaa or something i recommend "facing the plastic" and "narina"

Will do. Now let's hope I don't get arrested. :)

[TigranJamharian]

:p if you do dont say i put you up to it

[xBaron Dants]

You kidding me? If I go down, I'm taking you down with me! :p

But I wasn't able to find either of your recommendations. Vnas chooni...I'll find the CD.

[whitelotus]

the group is called ' serart ' and i think the cd is also self titled, if im not mistaken

the two musicians in that group are arto t. and serj tankian from system of a down.

i like a lot of arto's music, its really artistic

do you guys remember his performance at the armenian music awards ? with the pan full of water .

tholma er shenum haha it was funny.