Tigran Hamasyan

In its ever-evolving state, jazz invites into its fold imaginative artists who freely and courageously pursue their own vision, not only built on tradition but also infused with their own personality and passion. In the case of composer / pianist / keyboardist Tigran Hamasyan, potent jazz improvisation fuses with the rich folkloric music of his native Armenia. He’s one of the most remarkable and distinctive jazz-meets-rock pianists of his generation. Tigran’s fresh sound is marked by an exploration of time signatures beyond 4/4 into 5/4 and 9/8, charged dynamics, the shifting between acoustic and electric modes of expression, all undergirded by an affinity to the grind of heavy metal.

Tigran is one of the most remarkable jazz pianists and composers of his generation. He combines improvisation with the rich traditional music of his native Armenia. Last year, Hamasyan composed his greatest work, inspired by a traditional Armenian tale of the same name: The Bird of a Thousand Voices, ‘Hazaran Blbul’ in Armenian. He is rediscovering this story in a transmedia project, consisting of an innovative livestaged play, two ambitious cinematic fiction music videos, a documentary music video and an online game directed by Ruben Van Leer. The original story of Hazaran Blbul has been orally transmitted over the centuries and cultures. The folk tale requires a multi-layered, transdisciplinary approach to provide an artistic context for this fascinating story. The mystical bird of a thousand voices is a beautiful metaphor of our times: a world in search of connection and harmony, faced with ecological, psychological and spiritual crises. Any form of recognition and new means of transmitting this beautiful music of the ancient traditions of the Caucasus is therefore important and sets the tone for world curiosity and diversity. “The Bird Of A Thousand Voices” is part of this context. This concert version performance will feature Hamasyan’s musical compositions only – the fully realized staged version of the project will be presented in Belgium and Germany this year.

 Play the online game inspired by The Bird of a Thousand Voices: Venture into the magical world of the mythical bird and experience Hamasyan’s unique music in an interactive online game experience > Play Now