Tigran Hamasyan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tigran Hamasyan
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| Background information | |
| Born | July 17, 1987 Leninakan, Armenian SSR, (now Gyumri, Armenia) |
| Genres | Jazz, jazz fusion, progressive rock, Armenian folk |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, pianist, composer |
| Instruments | Piano, vocals |
| Years active | 2001–present |
Tigran Hamasyan (Armenian: Տիգրան Համասյան; born July 17, 1987) is an amazing Armenian jazz pianist and composer. He is known for playing his own songs. These songs are often inspired by traditional Armenian folk music. He uses Armenian scales and musical styles in his jazz.
Tigran also loves American jazz. Sometimes, like on his album Red Hail, you can hear sounds from progressive rock music too. His album A Fable is very much about Armenian folk music. Even when he plays classic jazz songs, his improvisations often include musical ideas from Middle Eastern traditions.
Tigran's Early Life
Tigran Hamasyan was born in Gyumri, Armenia. His family came from the Kars area. His dad was a jeweler, and his mom designed clothes.
When he was just three years old, Tigran started playing melodies on his family's piano. He began going to music school at age six. As a young child, he even dreamed of becoming a thrash metal guitarist!
He started studying jazz when he was nine. As a teenager, he tried to mix local folk melodies into his jazz playing. At this time, Tigran was inspired by Armenian composers like Arno Babajanian and Avet Terterian.
When Tigran was about 10, he moved to Yerevan with his family. Later, at 16, they moved to California. Today, he lives back in Yerevan, Armenia.
Tigran's Music Career
Tigran Hamasyan recorded his first album, World Passion, when he was 18. In 2013, he spent a lot of time in Armenia. This helped him explore Armenian folk music even more.
He led a band called "Aratta Rebirth." With them, he performed the album Red Hail. On April 29, 2022, Tigran released StandArt. This album featured his versions of classic American songs from the 1920s to the 1950s. He worked with other great musicians on this project. These included Matt Brewer, Justin Brown, Ambrose Akinmusire, Joshua Redman, and Mark Turner.
Awards and Recognitions
Tigran has won many awards for his amazing piano playing and compositions:
- 2002: 3rd Prize at the Martial Solal International Jazz Piano Competition in Paris.
- 2003: 1st Prize at Jazz à Juan Révélations for jazz instruments.
- 2003: Won the Critics' and Public's Prize at the Montreux Jazz Festival Piano Competition.
- 2005: 3rd Prize at the Moscow Jazz Piano Competition.
- 2005: 1st Prize at the 8th Monaco Jazz Soloists Competition.
- 2006: 1st Prize at the famous Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz competition.
- 2006: 2nd Prize again at the Martial Solal International Jazz Piano Competition.
- 2013: Received the Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Contemporary Music.
- 2015: Won the Paul Acket Award at the North Sea Jazz Festival.
- 2016: Received an ECHO Jazz Award.
Tigran's Albums
Tigran has released many albums as the main artist. Here are some of them:
- 2006: World Passion
- 2007: New Era
- 2009: Aratta Rebirth: Red Hail
- 2011: A Fable
- 2013: Shadow Theater
- 2015: Mockroot
- 2015: Luys i Luso
- 2017: An Ancient Observer
- 2019: They Say Nothing Stays the Same (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
- 2020: The Call Within
- 2022: StandArt
- 2024: The Bird of a Thousand Voices
He has also released shorter music collections called EPs:
- EP No. 1 (2011)
- The Poet (2014)
- For Gyumri (2018)
Tigran has also played piano on albums by other musicians. This is called being a "sideman." Some of these include:
- 2010: Abu Nawas Rhapsody with Dhafer Youssef
- 2011: Lines of Oppression with Ari Hoenig
- 2012: Liberetto with Lars Danielsson
- 2013: Jazz-Iz-Christ with Serj Tankian
- 2015: Ancient Mechanisms with LV
- 2016: Atmosphères with Arve Henriksen
See also
In Spanish: Tigran Hamasyan para niños
