Waltons World Masters
Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Armenia in Ireland

present

TIGRAN HAMASYAN

The renowned Armenian pianist and composer returns to Ireland for an unmissable solo concert.

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, spoken word poetry and more.

‘A mature and great and rich and deep artist'
– Chick Corea

We are delighted to bring Tigran back to Ireland for his fourth World Masters Series concert – and the second in association with the Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Armenia in Ireland.

‘the hottest pianist in jazz’
 – The Guardian

For this concert, Tigran will showcase music from his new album An Ancient Observer (Nonesuch). Some are through-composed and fully realised, while others leave ample space for improvisation. Many include vocals. But all are inspired by the music of Tigran’s native Armenia, a country with an extraordinarily rich musical heritage.

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

Conceptually, this poignant album is all about the art of observing. ‘It’s something that humans have been practicing for ages, sometimes even subliminally’, he says. ‘It’s the feeling of the ancient eternal and permanent versus the present day ephemeral and impermanent. The intertwining of this ancient with the modern world creates an existential feeling. This album is presenting an observation of the world we live in now and the weight of our history we carry on our shoulders, which is influencing us even if we don’t realize it. This album is the observation of influences and experiences I had.’

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

'Hamasyan's distinctive musicality blends jazz, European classical music and an array of influences like progressive-rock and DJ mixing. Yet the common thread is the inventive way the music balances ethnicity with a modernist verve.’
– All About Jazz

Most of all, the music is inspired by Tigran’s recent return to live in his native Armenia: ‘I gaze out of my window and see the biblical mountain Ararat with perpetual snow on its peak, with electrical towers with wires in the foreground cutting the picture, and satellite dishes melted onto old and modern houses – ancestral smoke coming out of their chimneys – and birds hovering above the trees along with occasional airplane trails in the vast sky. It is a dialogue, this interaction of God-given ancient nature with our modern human achievements…. For me it is an awakening, and a beautiful feeling, to be able to observe the magnificence of this sleeping volcanic giant, which has existed for millions of years and was observed by the Ararat Valley Koura-Arax culture through to the present day citizens of the Armenian republic. I can see and observe the same birds, animals, rivers, and mountains that the craftsman of 4,000 years ago painted on a clay vessel. He was observing the same thing I observe now, and what remains is a beautiful work of art.’

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

‘Tigran, you are my teacher’
– Herbie Hancock

We invite you to an extraordinary solo concert by a truly extraordinary musician.

‘This was a virtuosic tour de force, the wealth of ideas matched by genuine craft in his songwriting.’
– Laurence Mackin, Irish Times review of Tigran's first Irish concert (2012)

‘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 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), review of Tigran's second Irish concert (2014)