4 PROFILE June 3-4, 2017 theaustralian.com.au/review AUSE01Z01AR - V1 G eneva is a four-hour flight from Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, where the celebrated pianist and composer Tigran Hamasyan lives. While the two cities couldn’t be more different — Geneva is as pretty and pris- tine as Yerevan is sprawling and feisty — both happen to be overlooked by mighty snow- capped mountain peaks. Here in Geneva, where Hamasyan is performing in a sold-out 1000- seat venue as part of a world tour that brings him to Australia this week, it’s the Swiss Alps, which from time to time I view over the musi- cian’s shoulder as we sit in a grand hotel on Lake Geneva, drinking tea. In Yerevan, where Hamasyan lives after re- locating from Los Angeles four years ago, it is Mount Ararat, the majestic dormant volcano that is the national symbol of Armenia, a land- locked nation wedged inside the mountainous Caucasus region between Asia and Europe (even if Mount Ararat looms just across the bor- der in the extreme east of Turkey). “Every morning I rise to that spectacular view,” says Hamasyan, 30, an impish, dark-eyed talent who has released eight albums, amassed a clutch of important awards and won accolades from the musical giants — including jazzmen Chick Corea, Brad Mehldau and Herbie Han- cock (who told him, “Tigran, you are my teacher now!”) — he grew up admiring. “People in Yer- evan have been observing that same mountain for tens of thousands of years.” His voice is soft; his manner, like his playing, is quietly confident. “They saw the same trees and rivers and val- leys that I see today, except that my view also has electrical towers with wires, satellite dishes melted on to old and modern houses, and the occasional aeroplane trail in the sky. This inter- action of God-given nature with our human achievements is a dialogue,” he says. Hamasyan’s latest album is An Ancient Ob- server, a wildly acclaimed solo piano project that is his second release on the prestigious Nonesuch label. It’s a continuation of a sound that synthesises and internalises influences ran- ging from classical music, 1970s rock and Swed- ish death metal to funk, hip hop and Indian Carnatic traditions, while keeping the pianist’s own blend of modern jazz and Armenian folk music in the foreground. It’s laced with minor, melancholy chords and imbued with a fierce beauty; you won’t find anything else like it. Each of the album’s songs, some of them in- strumentals, some of them accompanied by Ha- masyan’s wordless singing or beatboxing, has a story behind it. All are inspired by the ancient and modern contrasts he noted on returning home to Armenia after a decade away: “These BORN TO IMPROVISE Armenian pianist and composer Tigran Hamasyan is bringing his eclectic blend of jazz and traditional folk songs to Australia, writes Jane Cornwell Tigran Hamasyan AUSTRALIA’S PREMIER INDIGENOUS ART FAIR This project is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland’s Backing Indigenous Arts initiative, which aims to build a stronger, more sustainable and ethical Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts industry in the State. Download the CIAF event app! Photograph Lovegreen Photography 14 - 16 July 2O17 Opening night 13th July Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal Experience the vibrant Indigenous cultures of Queensland through art, dance, fashion, music, performance, children’s programs, artist talks and theatre. Free and ticketed events Tickets on sale now - ciaf.com.au Cairns Indigenous Art Fair Limited is assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, It’s arts funding and advisory body.
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4 PROFILE
June 3-4, 2017 theaustralian.com.au/reviewAUSE01Z01AR - V1
Geneva is a four-hour flight fromYerevan, the capital of Armenia,where the celebrated pianist andcomposer Tigran Hamasyan lives.While the two cities couldn’t be
more different — Geneva is as pretty and pris-tine as Yerevan is sprawling and feisty — bothhappen to be overlooked by mighty snow-capped mountain peaks. Here in Geneva, whereHamasyan is performing in a sold-out 1000-seat venue as part of a world tour that bringshim to Australia this week, it’s the Swiss Alps,which from time to time I view over the musi-cian’s shoulder as we sit in a grand hotel onLake Geneva, drinking tea.
In Yerevan, where Hamasyan lives after re-locating from Los Angeles four years ago, it isMount Ararat, the majestic dormant volcanothat is the national symbol of Armenia, a land-locked nation wedged inside the mountainousCaucasus region between Asia and Europe(even if Mount Ararat looms just across the bor-der in the extreme east of Turkey).
“Every morning I rise to that spectacularview,” says Hamasyan, 30, an impish, dark-eyedtalent who has released eight albums, amassed aclutch of important awards and won accoladesfrom the musical giants — including jazzmenChick Corea, Brad Mehldau and Herbie Han-cock (who told him, “Tigran, you are my teacher
now!”) — he grew up admiring. “People in Yer-evan have been observing that same mountainfor tens of thousands of years.”
His voice is soft; his manner, like his playing,is quietly confident.
“They saw the same trees and rivers and val-leys that I see today, except that my view alsohas electrical towers with wires, satellite dishesmelted on to old and modern houses, and theoccasional aeroplane trail in the sky. This inter-action of God-given nature with our humanachievements is a dialogue,” he says.
Hamasyan’s latest album is An Ancient Ob-server, a wildly acclaimed solo piano projectthat is his second release on the prestigiousNonesuch label. It’s a continuation of a soundthat synthesises and internalises influences ran-ging from classical music, 1970s rock and Swed-ish death metal to funk, hip hop and IndianCarnatic traditions, while keeping the pianist’sown blend of modern jazz and Armenian folkmusic in the foreground. It’s laced with minor,melancholy chords and imbued with a fiercebeauty; you won’t find anything else like it.
Each of the album’s songs, some of them in-strumentals, some of them accompanied by Ha-masyan’s wordless singing or beatboxing, has astory behind it. All are inspired by the ancientand modern contrasts he noted on returninghome to Armenia after a decade away: “These
BORN TO IMPROVISE Armenian pianist and composer Tigran Hamasyan is bringing his eclectic blend of jazz and traditional folk
songs to Australia, writes Jane Cornwell
Tigran Hamasyan
AUSTRALIA’S PREMIER INDIGENOUS ART FAIR
This project is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland’s Backing Indigenous Arts initiative, which aims to build a stronger, more sustainable and ethical Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts industry in the State.
Download the CIAF event app!
Photograph Lovegreen Photography
14 - 16 July 2O17Opening night 13th July Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal
Experience the vibrant Indigenous cultures of Queensland through art, dance, fashion, music, performance, children’s programs, artist talks and theatre.
Free and ticketed eventsTickets on sale now - ciaf.com.au
Cairns Indigenous Art Fair Limited is assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, It’s arts funding and advisory body.
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