Performance

When Friday, 2 May 2014
Where The Button Factory, Dublin
Presented by Waltons New School of Music

Tigran Hamasyan Trio

Tigran Hamasyann • Piano
Sam Minaie • Bass
Arthur Hnatek • Drums

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A truly original jazz talent, pianist, composer and singer Tigran Hamasyan came to Ireland for the first time in 2012, at the age of 24, to perform a solo concert for the World Masters series of astonishing range and depth, including pieces plucked from his Verve/Universal debut, A Fable. That album and concert included strikingly original compositions not only strongly influenced by the Armenian folk tradition but also by the American jazz tradition.

For his return to Ireland, Tigran performed music from his acclaimed follow-up album, Shadow Theater, with bassist Sam Minaie and drummer Arthur Hnatek​. On that album Tigran explores new avenues – both sonic and electronic – drawing on sources as diverse as Madlib, Sigur Rós and Steve Reich and enticing us into his imaginary world of characters. Tigran describes his new work as ‘a minimal, false world… but a world that expresses truth through that lie’, and the album has a unique, dream-like quality. Shadow Theater is yet another step forward in an extraordinary career. In it Tigran seamlessly blends electronic loops with traditional material in such a way that the listener never quite knows which direction a piece will take. Rather like an illusion, blink and you’ll miss it!

‘Tigran, you are my teacher.’
– Herbie Hancock

‘He plays piano like a raga – the next Keith Jarrett.’
– Trilok Gurtu

‘the hottest pianist in jazz’
– The Guardian

‘Tigran stands out for his burning intensity.’
– The Telegraph

‘Tigran Hamasyan’s music exists in its own universe’
– JazzTimes

‘You’ll hear nothing else like this’
– NPR Music

Tigran Hamasyan

Pianist, composer and singer Tigran Hamasyan is one of the most remarkable musicians of his generation – trained as a classical and jazz musician but drawing on a wide range of influences, including the Armenian folk tradition, rock, electronica, poetry and more.

Tigran first came to Ireland in 2012, at the age of 24, to perform a solo concert, based on his album A Fable (Verve), of astonishing range and depth in the National Concert Hall’s John Field Room.

‘This was a virtuosic tour de force, the wealth of ideas matched by genuine craft in his songwriting.’
– Laurence Mackin, Irish Times review

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Returning here for a second World Masters Series concert in 2014, Tigran and his trio performed music from his second album, Shadow Theater (Universal) in the Button Factory and explored new avenues – both sonic and electronic – drawing on sources as diverse as Madlib, Sigur Rós and Steve Reich.

‘I had seen Armenian/American pianist Tigran Hamasyan live in a solo concert some time ago and have enjoyed his various studio combinations, but nothing prepared me for the musical experience of his recent Button Factory trio concert. Bassist Sam Minaie and drummer Arthur Hnatek, along with Tigran’s use of electronic loops and beat-box vocals, place the trio in the forefront of contemporary sounds while still maintaining elements of the jazz piano influence of Keith Jarrett and Chick Corea, all rooted by a strong backbone of traditional Armenian folk music. A rare combination – a rare treat – if it comes your way don’t miss it!’
– Carl Corcoran, RTÉ lyric fm

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