The Guardian about Armenia born jazz pianist

The Guardian has devoted an article to Tigran Hamasyan, an Armenia born jazz pianist who, despite his young age,, is already a winner of several big international prizes.

The British publication has compared the 25-year old musician with the American singer and song-writer and poet Bob Dylan.

"Listening to his account of Someday My Prince Will Come on this mostly solo set – a mix of Chick Corea's gliding touch and his own darker melodic atmosphere – it isn't hard to tell why Hamasyan floored the judges. That's the only jazz standard on this set, however, the rest being folk originals or pieces influenced by his Armenian childhood. Fans of Avishai Cohen will warm to this newcomer's song-rooted melodic sense: he likes embroidering gentle folk melodies with dazzling instrumental variations and lilting singing. The songs unfold over rolling ostinato patterns or climax in chord clamours, and some are wistful and mystical," says the article.

Tigran Hamasyan was born in 1987 in Gyumri. The First International Jazz festival of Yerevan (held in 1998) marked an important stage in his creative life. His participation estimated as a real discovery in jazz community, then he received a lot of invitations to play on concerts and sessions. The Second Yerevan Jazz Festival held in 2000 was more fruitful for young musician. He was acquainted with jazz stars Chick Korea, Avishai Cohen, Jeff Ballard, Ari Roland. There he met Stephane Kochoyan who played pivotal role in presenting and promoting Tigran to European jazz community. In 2001 he invited Tigran to take part in several festivals in France, where he played with Philip and Christophe Le Van.