Results for "Armen Donelian"

Armen Donelian

Born: 1950

For fifty years, pianist, composer and Fulbright Scholar ARMEN DONELIAN has distinguished himself in 25 countries as a performer, recording artist, producer, educator and with his published writings. Donelian’s music is a distinctive blend of influences including his Armenian origin, his Classical technique, and his association with some of the biggest names in Jazz. And, according to Metronom, he achieves this fusion “in such a natural way that one can tell it’s a master’s work.”

As a child, Armen absorbed the sound of Armenian, Turkish, Greek and Middle Eastern music at social gatherings and from records his father played at home.

Stargazer

By Armen Donelian

Label: Sunnyside Records
Released: 2025
Track listing: Stargazer; Free at Last; Southern Belle; Love's Endless Spin; Monday; Silence Afternoon; Queen of Light

Pianist-Composer Armen Donelian Underscores His Jazz Legacy With A New Reissue Of 'Stargazer,' His 1981 Debut, By Sunnyside Records On October 3

August 7, 2025

Produced when pianist-composer Armen Donelian was not yet 30 years old, Stargazer—his debut recording as a leader—was released in 1981 on an indie Japanese record label and only available elsewhere as a hard-to-find import. Until now, that is. On October 3, Donelian’s longtime label Sunnyside Records will reissue Stargazer, a stunning and remarkably assured trio date ...

Jam Session: How Armenian Jazz Improvised Its Way Onto The World Stage

by Michael Sarian
March 31, 2023

Note: Originally published in the December 2021 issue of AGBU Magazine. At the turn of the 20th century, world events began to mark a major shift in the cultural and socio-political landscape that would reverberate across the globe for the next hundred years. During this period, as the drum beat of existential ...

Fresh Start

By Armen Donelian

Label: Sunnyside Records
Released: 2022
Track listing: Noviembre; Fresh Start; Ferry Maiden; Madagascar; Galel; Never Let Me Go; Tirado; In the Western Night; Day Break; Janet Left the Planet; I'm Stepping Out with a Memory Tonight; Tales in the Western Night

Sharp Radway, Gerald Clayton and Armen Donelian

by Joe Dimino
May 22, 2022

We begin the 752nd Episode of Neon Jazz with pianist Armen Donelian with new music from his latest release Fresh Start. Next, we hear from his friend Billy Harper and a host of veteran artists with new material out in 2022. From the likes of Sam Kirmayer, David Nichtern, Sharp Radway and James Brown Gang. In ...

Pianist-Composer Armen Donelian Debuts New Trio, With Jay Anderson & Dennis Mackrel, On 'Fresh Start,' Due April 1 From Sunnyside Records

February 2, 2022

Pianist-composer Armen Donelian reemerges from the COVID-inspired shutdowns with a newly refined conception on both instrument and pen on Fresh Start, to be released April 1 on Sunnyside Records. The album is the recorded premiere of Donelian’s new trio featuring bassist Jay Anderson and drummer Dennis Mackrel. Sidelined like all musicians by the worldwide pandemic, Donelian ...

2019 Hudson Jazz Festival

by Rudolph Lu
April 2, 2019

Hudson, New York is a two-hour ride from New York City, an hour away from Albany, and home to the Hudson Jazz Festival. Now in its second year, this year's festival took place from February 17 through February 19, with all performances held in the recently restored Hudson Hall. Day one featured the music ...

First Tucson Jazz Festival features Bacharach, Reeves, Cobb, Childs, DeFrancesco, more

January 12, 2015

By Patricia Myers The HSL Tucson Jazz Festival, a 13-day event from January 16-28 will feature both national and Arizona musicians, headlined by 86-year-old composer Burt Bacharach, 85-year old drummer and NEA Jazz Master Jimmy Cobb, and four 2015 Grammy-nominated musicians. Organist Joey DeFrancesco received a Best Jazz Instrumental nomination for Enjoy The View ...

Sayat-Nova: Songs of my Ancestors

By Armen Donelian

Label: Sunnyside Records
Released: 2014
Track listing: Disc 1: "Where Do You Come From, Wandering Nightingale? / Oosdi Goukas Gharib Blbool?"; "I Have Traveled The Whole World Over / Tamam Ashkhar Bdood Eka"; "Without You, What Will I Do? / Arantz Kez Eench Goneem?"; "Surely, You Don't Say That You Also Cry? / Ches Asoum Te Latz-es Eli?"; "I'll Never Know Your True Worth / Hees Koo Gheemetn Cheem Geetee", "I Call Lalanin / Hees Ganchoom Eem Lalaneen"; "Praised Among All Instruments (Kamanche) / Amen Sazi Mechn Govats (Kamanche)"; "With The Nightingale You Also Cry / Blbooli Hit Latz-es Eli"; "Were I Offered Your Weight In Pearls / Tekouz Koo Kashn Markrit Tan" Disc 2: "King Of Cathay / Shahkhatayee"; "Your Headdress Is Silver And Silk / Tasdamazt Sim Oo Sharbab"; "My Sweet Harp / Eem Anoush Davigh"; "You Are Golden And Exotic Brocade / Tipa Oo Yenkitoonia"; "As Long As I Draw Breath / Kani Vor Jan Eem"