Been a while since I did one of these, but I recently came across this “lockdown” performance by one of my all-time favorite musicians/composers/performers and I had to share.
There is Jazz. There is Piano. There is Cross-Cultural Music. There is Jazz Piano. There is Cross-Cultural Jazz Piano Music.
And then there is Tigran Hamasyan, in whom they all become one, and he becomes one with them. One living, breathing Behemoth of Passion: he and the piano become the one body that delivers forth……this……Universe of Sound.
I have never witnessed another pianist who is so at one with his instrument. I swear that, watching him play, one can see him swinging his instrument around–as much as any Jimi Hendrix or David Gilmour or Joe Satriani does with their guitar–through some kind of 4th-Dimensional Space that he is creating right there in front of us. And he is taking us there, into that space, leading us through strange enchanted lands of Tone and Harmony…
…and Rhythm….let’s not forget what amazing Rhythmical Journeys he is capable of taking us on as naturally as we take a walk down the block for a pack of smokes.
Now, what really gets me about this performance, if you pay attention, is the near-alien, almost inhuman, organic-machine-like movement and precision of his hands (especially the right) that you can see throughout the video but really comes to the fore starting at about the 4:48 mark…..
And, really, if you think about it, it is rather alien…..Tigran and Piano Become One…..a Homunculus of Human Tissue, Steel, Brass, Felt and Wood….(from the elbow up, his right hand really is rather reminiscent of the face-huggers from the Alien movies….no?)
Here is a great in-depth discussion of some (perhaps only a bit) of what Tigran is doing (poly-) rhythmically in his music…if you feel like getting your head bent…..
And here: the two songs mentioned by Mr. Bruce…..if you’re of a mind to hear how all this rhythmical-technical wizardry plays out to create amazing music…..
And here…..finally…..your actual Sunday Soundtrack. Tigran playing an awe-inspiring concert of solo piano music……
Enjoy….and….
You know the drill.
Press play.
Go on about your day.
A Prayer Like Gravity 
Great music to write to
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Indeed–though a bit busy for some, I imagine. So sorry I missed your comment. Been out of the WP loop, hiding under my rock. Hope you are well, my dear.
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Hiding under your Covid rock like all of us? No fear, the vaccine is near. You can come out and play again.
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Well I certainly hope so, but hope is often a too- thin thing. We will be under our rock for a bit longer I fear. My wife has rather severe immune issue and cannot take the vaccine or risk exposure to all the bozos who can and should but won’t. We shall see…..
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stay safe…channel your energies into creative things to help you feel like yourself.
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Is it weird that I think I understand what you mean by the face hugger analogy? I mean, it’s gross and all, but I’m into it. I have never heard of this Tigran fellow before, but I had a listen. That is wizardry. It’s not the type of music I usually listen to, but it’s easy to get swept up in this. Especially just watching him and his passion, the way he connects with the music. That’s art.
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It’s only weird if I’m……oh….wait….never mind. Yeah. It’s weird.
Seeing anyone who is passionate about what they do is, I think, a doorway into appreciation.
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Nice blog
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Thank you so much, Saania–sorry it took me so long to reply….I’ve been deep under a rock….
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