YEREVAN, JUNE 24, ARMENPRESS. Armenian chants and verses were performed by renowned Armenian pianist Tigran Hamasyan in Lake Van’s Akdamar Island, in front of Holy Cross Cathedral. As Armenpress reports, citing the Turkish “Haberler,” pianist Tigran Hamasyan’s and Yerevan State Chamber Choir’s consecutive performance of concert program “Luys i Luso” took place on June 23. The concert program “Luys i Luso” (Light of Light) kicked off in Armenia’s historical capital Ani on June 21. The next concert of the program will take place in Diyarbakır Church of St. Giragos on June 25. The end of the project in Turkey will take place within the framework of the jazz festival in Istanbul on June 30.

Renowned Armenian pianist Tigran Hamasyan had earlier presented his “Luys i Luso” (Light of Light) program at Holy Etchmiadzin on June 17.  As Armenpress was informed by the Georgian diocese of Armenia, Yerevan State Chamber Choir, headed by Harutyun Topikyan, also took part in the concert. The program is a new interpretation of Armenian religious music from the 5th to the 20th centuries, which will be released as a CD in September 2015. The program includes works by Mesrop Mashtots, Grigor Nakeratsi, Grigor Pahlavuni, Nerses Shnorhali, Mkhitar Ayrivanetsi and Makar Yekmalyan. The tour kicked off in Yerevan on March 24. Over the year Hamasyan will give concerts in 100 churches of Turkey, Lebanon, France, Belgium, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Russia and the United States. The main purpose of the project is to continue what the giants of Armenian sacred and folk music – Komitas Vardapet and Makar Yekmalyan started at the beginning of the century and express gratitude to the fathers of Armenian sacred hymns and chants by taking their music to the ancient churches and monasteries where it was born.

Although trained as a classical and jazz musician, Tigran Hamasyan draws on a wide range of influences, including Armenian folk music, rock, electronica, poetry, and more, In the past decade, with the release of four critically acclaimed albums and an unceasing touring schedule, he has built up a dedicated international following, as well as accolades from the likes of Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, and Brad Mehldau. In the words of the Guardian, Hamasyan ‘is guided by one of [mentor and fan Herbie Hancock’s] most enduring lessons: it's possible to be a multi-stylistic jazz virtuoso and a groove-powered hitmaker simultaneously and hugely enjoy all of it.’ The Times said of his most recent release, 2013’s Shadow Theater, ‘Armenian folk, electronic loops, heavenly voices and indie rock energy vie with Hamasyan’s rippling piano to create a dramatic, deeply melodic music unlike anything else you’ll hear this year.’

Hamasyan was born in Armenia in 1987, before relocating with his family to Los Angeles in 2003. He currently resides in Erevan, Armenia. He began playing piano at the age of three, and started performing in festivals and competitions when he was 11 years old, winning the Montreux Jazz Festival’s piano competition in 2003. He released his debut album, World Passion, at the age of 18 in 2006. That same year he won the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition. Subsequent albums include New Era (2008), Red Hail (2009), and A Fable (2011), for which he was awarded a Victoires de la Musique (the equivalent of a Grammy Award in France). Most recently he won the Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Contemporary Music in 2013.

His first album for Universal recorded in Paris on solo piano, "A Fable", was released in 2011. It sold impressively well for an instrumental album with 30,000 units. It received praises throughout including winning a French Grammy award in 2011. Tigran's rising stature in music garners notice globally wherever he has been able to be heard.

Tigran truly has a unique profile. Not only can he display dazzling piano dexterity, but also an undeniably profound sense of composition. He's equally at ease with jazz, classical music, Armenian popular repertoire, rock, heavy metal, or avant-garde, Armenian sacred music. Tigran Hamasyan’s Nonesuch Records debut album, Mockroot, will be released in February 2015. Hamasyan’s music draws from a wide range of sources—from jazz and Armenian folk music; Bach and French fin de siècle composers; dubstep, thrash metal, and contemporary electronica. His live performances and six studio albums have received enthusiastic approval from the likes of Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, and Brad Mehldau.

Where his last album, 2013’s Shadow Theatre, featured an extended band with choral sections, strings, and saxes, Mockroot is based around the tight trio of Hamasyan on piano and vocals, Sam Minaie on bass guitar, and Arthur Hnatek on drums.