Credits:

Tigran Hamasyan

Description:

Tigran Hamasyan, one of the hottest pianist/composers in the contemporary jazz scene and a genius from Armenia, takes the Great American Songbook to new artistic heights. His long-awaited new album "STANDART," his first "American Standards" album in two years! Tigran Hamasyan is one of the most popular pianists and composers in the contemporary jazz scene. Recently, he composed music for Odagiri Joe's film "The Story of a Boatman," and his activities and musicality are now stepping out of the framework of jazz. He is now releasing a new album, his first in about two years since "THE CALL WITHIN" in 2020. While he has released mainly original compositions, the theme of this new album is "American Standards," focusing on songs from the "Great American Songbook" of the 1920s through the 1950s. His latest album, "STANDART," was recorded in Los Angeles last spring.Produced by Tigran himself, this is his first attempt at a collection of American music, having previously released original compositions or works based on the traditional music of his native Armenia. The album includes American standards created by Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II, Johnny Mercer, Jerome Kern, Charlie Parker, David Raskin, and others. The album also includes nine improvisational pieces that Tigran created with his band members. With this album, I wanted to express my sincere appreciation for the music by using the techniques and ideas that I have been developing and warming up to, in a repertoire that I finally had a chance to look back on," Tigran explains. I really love the music and the melodies. This is American folk music for me. As an Armenian-American immigrant, I can relate to how composers and musicians from different backgrounds have managed to embody freedom despite their dark history.In that sense, I hope to be like them, to find something in the tradition of where I come from." Backing Tigran on the album are Matt Brewer, who plays bass in his trio, and drummer Justin Brown. Also featured on two tracks is American avant-garde jazz trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire. Other special guests include labelmate Joshua Redman on Charlie Parker's "Big Foot" and saxophonist Mark Turner on Jerome Kern & Oscar Hammerstein's "All The Things You Are. The album also features special guests." Tigran Hamasyan has found a new direction in "American Standards. With "STANDART," he has succeeded in taking timeless standard numbers into a new sonic universe that no one has ever reached before.

Tracklisting:

1.De-Dah
2.I Didn't Know What Time It Was
3.All the Things You Are (feat. Mark Turner)
4.Big Foot (feat. Joshua Redman)
5.When a Woman Loves a Man
6.Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise
7.I Should Care (feat. Ambrose Akinmusire)
8.Invasion During an Operetta (feat. Ambrose Akinmusire)
9.Laura