snobb Along with Tigran's impressive 2011 album, "A Fable", "EP No.1" is a small beautiful release that came out the same year. It contains five songs influenced by South Caucasus folklore.

The music on here is quite different from your usual world fusion and sounds somewhere in-between of Tigran's post-bop works and his Aratta Rebirth band's classic fusion. The most attractive and interesting elements on this release are the tasteful use of the Armenian duduk (a national reed instrument) and the age-old folklore vocal traditions in combination with the post-bop/fusion keyboards and piano, plus the very modern electric/acoustic rhythm section and even some electronic effects.

Everyone familiar with the best Caucasus folklore knows of its very special magnetism (especially in vocal harmonies and explosive rhythms, its kind of a East meets West sound that is improved by ages of tradition). Here on this release, Tigran demonstrates one of best examples of a modern reading of this music from the jazz musician's position with a very careful and tasteful use of musical legacy.

This is a good entry release for newcomers who want to check out modern Caucasus folklore-based jazz.

snobb At his 23 Armenian pianist released his fourth album, and the album is really good!He started to play piano from his 3,got classical musical education and from 2001 (being just 14) started to play in Europe.

Besides of his love to classic jazz and rock, he got good training in Armenian folk music, which became important element in his later music. In 2002 Tigran won the 3-rd prize in Martial Solal International Jazz Piano Competition held in Paris and later moved to continue his musical education in S.California.

Tigran's early releases were technically competent, but a bit too common,without own character. Happily, on fresh release he pays more attention to his roots - Armenian folklore. But it's no way fashionable world fusion, he plays real modern post-bop based piano jazz,just with some very tasteful inclusions of Caucasus tunes and lyric sounds palette. Mostly acoustic piano only album (Tigran sings on few compositions and there are some electronic sounds added as well), this release contains melodic,accessible and pleasant compositions which never crosses the border with more commercial and polished contemporary jazz. In many places listener can hear Tigran's classical education's roots, but as in case with Armenian folklore influence its are always more flavors, giving more personal sound to his music, than dominant trends.

The album's music in whole contains very airy (as coming from Caucasus mountains) atmosphere, light and bright sound,but without pathetic and over-weight melodies. This tasteful balance makes the music really fresh and attractive, excellent listening for sunny Sunday afternoon.