Author: Kalantarian Kevo

JAZZ PIANIST BLENDS GENRES AT SOHO

Daily Nexus, Univ. of California in Santa Barbara, CA
Nov 14 2013

Posted by Robert Johnson on November 14, 2013 at 5:00 am

On Nov. 11, Armenian-born jazz pianist Tigran Hamasyan played SOhO
in Santa Barbara as part of his first major U.S. tour. Hamasyan,
commonly billed and referred to just as Tigran, was backed by bassist
Christopher Tordini, drummer Arthur Hnatek and vocalist Areni Agbabian,
who also played the synthesizer.

Tigran, who was born in Armenia in 1987 and lived there until he was
16, bases a large portion of his music off of his country’s native
folk music. He often uses musical scales and modes native to Middle
Eastern and Southeast Asian music not generally found in Western music.

Walking into SOhO, I found myself in a dim and intimate setting that
quietly whispered “jazz.” Even though the band took to the stage 15
minutes later than expected, their opening number was one of the
most spectacular things I’ve ever seen. Having never listened to
any of Tigran’s music before, I was not sure what to expect beyond
Armenian influences.

The character of Tigran’s native country was unmistakable, and yet
it was well blended with elements of jazz and pop that kept the sound
out of a single genre. As the opening number continued, it gradually
got heavier until suddenly the band transitioned into a heavy metal
groove reminiscent of bands like Meshuggah and Opeth. As the 25-minute
long tune ended, I realized that Tigran isn’t your grandfather’s jazz
pianist, but rather a musician firmly influenced by the 21st century
who blends together genres old and new to create jazz like nothing
you’ve heard before.

For the second tune of the set, Tigran invited the band’s vocalist to
the stage. Agbabian vocalized melodic lines instead of singing lyrics.

This, combined with her soprano vocal range, made her sound like a
cross between Enya, Bjork and Sigur Ros frontman and vocalist Jonsi
Birgisson. Even with Agbabian creating vocals, there still was a
definite metal feel that pervaded the atmosphere, blending with the
pop and Middle Eastern influences.

The show continued along a similar vein of jazz amalgamation, with
Tigran’s melodic lines expertly vocalized by Agbabian over metal
grooves played by Tordini and Hnatek while Tigran improvised over
the wall of sound like a true virtuoso.

After their set, the band left the stage but returned again for an
encore. Tigran took center stage and began playing a tune similar to
Indonesian gamelan music while the band played a techno groove. After
some Armenian lyrics by Tigran and Agbabian, the band went into
overdrive and finished off the night with 10 minutes of dubstep,
amounting to a rich, 15-minute long encore.

At the end of the night, the band’s one-hour 48-minute Santa Barbara
debut was a clear demonstration of jazz’s status as a cultural mixing
pot of a musical genre. As much as he is touted as an Armenian jazz
pianist, Tigran irrefutably fuses together multiple disjunctive genres
to create music that proves that jazz is not only a tradition but an
ever-fluctuating force that will continue to adapt to, and inspire,
the tastes around it.

Photo Courtesy of Tigran Hamasyan

A version of this article appeared on page 8 of the Thursday, November
14, 2013 print edition of the Daily Nexus.

UKRAINE ‘SAVED’ ARMENIA’S FACE: ARMENIAN MP ON CUSTOMS UNION AND 2014 BUDGET

11.14.2013 20:01 epress.am

During discussion of the 2014 state budget in Armenia’s National
Assembly today, MP Alexander Arzoumanian opined that it is a
“hypothetical budget” because it’s not yet known whether the
international loans included there will be provided to Armenia or not.

The MP’s concern was associated with Armenia’s decision to join
the Russian-led Customs Union and the wish to “whip up in a frenzy”
the harmonization of Armenian legislation with the Customs Union.

“We know that our economy is more liberal and our customs duties are
lower. Now we buy what we what; soon, we’ll be forced to buy what
they put before us. By the way, I want to congratulate all of us,
that Ukraine has postponed signing the [EU] Association Agreement –
it makes us save face a little bit. Calculated in your budget are
anticipated European investments, but we can sure only of the funding
of current programs,” he said.

In response, Chair of the Standing Parliamentary Committee on Financial
-Credit and Budgetary Affairs Gagik Minasyan said that the 2014 draft
budget is, after all, only a draft. “Regarding the loans, I can’t
agree. I strongly believe that our European partners place importance
not on form but on content; therefore, they won’t stop funding [us]
after our decision.”

According to him, the constant refrain of either Customs Union
or European integration (that is, the implication that they are
irreconcilable) doesn’t help the task at hand.

PEOPLE’S PARTY LEADER JOINS FREEDOM-FIGHTERS’ STRUGGLE

20:46 ~U 14.11.13

Chairman of the People’s Party Tigran Karapetyan has joined the
freedom-fighters (participants in the Nagorno-Karabakh war) who are
holding regular rallies in Freedom Square.

“We will never get changes through elections. They are rigging
elections. We have to struggle to the end,” he said.

“I have come here because the people trust freedom-fighters. I trust
them too. Freedom-fighters are honest to the people.”

He called on the freedom-fighters to show their strength because
“we are with you.”

Armenian News – Tert.am

ROSATOM AND ARMENIA TO COMPLETE DIAGNOSIS OF ARMENIAN NPP IN EARLY 2014

November 13, 2013 | 20:17

YEREVAN. – The Russian state nuclear energy corporation (Rosatom)
and the Armenian side will complete diagnosis of the Armenian NPP in
early 2014, Energy Minister said.

As a result, budget for modernization of the NPP will be determined,
after which the Russian side will grant a loan, Energy Minister Armen
Movsisyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

“Credit must be given in a very short period of time,” Minister noted.

Funds will be used to extend the deadline for operation of the Armenian
NPP from 2016 to 2026.

As previously noted by Vahram Petrosyan, the secretary of presidential
council on nuclear energy safety, the restoration of a stations with
the same reactor is estimated at $120-160 million

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN: “NAGORNO-KARABAKH PROBLEM IS AS IMPORTANT FOR TURKEY AS IT IS FOR AZERBAIJAN”

APA, Azerbaijan
Nov 13 2013

[ 13 November 2013 16:04 ]

Baku. Rashad Suleymanov – APA. “Nagorno-Karabakh problem is as
important for Turkey as it is for Azerbaijan.

We continue our unconditional support to Azerbaijan for the peaceful
solution of the problem,” Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan said at the press conference following the 3rd meeting
of Azerbaijan-Turkey High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council,
APA reports.

Erdogan said that they have excellent relations with Azerbaijan and
underlined the highest level of relations in the political sphere. He
also noted that trade turnover increased between the two countries:
“We will achieve $15bn trade turnover in 2020. The relevant ministries
are working in this direction. We can take joint steps in the field
of defense industry. In line with the responsibility of being one
nation we are making decisions in politics.”

Turkish Prime Minister also touched on visa issue and said economy
ministers will deal with this issue.

ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTRY DENIES RUMORS OF CESSATION OF ARMS SUPPLIES TO AZERBAIJAN

Turan Information Agency, Azerbaijan
November 13, 2013 Wednesday

Baku/12.11.13/Turan:

Israel’s Foreign Ministry denied publication in the Armenian media
that Israel allegedly suspended arms supplies to Baku. According to
these publications, referring to the Swiss Agency ISN, Russia put
pressure on the Israeli Foreign Ministry, and obtained suspension of
supplies of certain elements of offensive weapons. The reason stated
Russia’s reluctance to change the balance of power in the region.

“No any changes happened in this area, no appeals came from the Russian
side. NO one changes the agreement,” the portal IzRus Foreign Ministry
was told by the spokesman Yigal Palmor regarding the information of
the Swiss news agency.

Israel is one of the largest sellers of arms to Azerbaijan. Thus,
in recent years the country supplied to Baku various weapons and
communications systems amounting $1.6 billion -02D-

WB SUPPORTS ARMENIA IN CREATING JOBS

RIA Oreanda, Russia
Economic News (Information Agency Oreanda)
November 13, 2013 Wednesday

Washington. OREANDA-NEWS . November 13, 2013. The World Bank Board
of Executive Directors approved a USD 72 million loan for the First
Development Policy Operation (DPO) for Armenia to support reforms
aimed at promoting macroeconomic stability, improving the business
environment, and enhancing the economys resilience to shocks through
measures to improve sustainability.

This is the first DPO in a series of three operations, supporting the
Government of Armenia in meeting its strategic objectives, including
stronger job creation, which is Armenias overarching development
challenge. The Operation is designed to help Armenia reduce poverty
and promote shared prosperity through growth enhancing reforms.

This Operation initiates the programmatic series that will complement
Armenias development vision, says Jean-Michel Happi, World Bank Country
Manager for Armenia. The proposed new series shifts the focus from
mitigation against crisis vulnerability to a medium-term agenda for
strengthening growth drivers. The Bank is committed to support the
efforts of the authorities in meeting those challenges.

The Operation is anchored on two pillars. The first pillar is aimed at
strengthening competitiveness through critical business climate and
public administration reforms. These are expected to contribute to
job creation through reducing the costs of doing business for firms,
expanding access to credit to SMEs, and increasing opportunities for
employment and job creation through increased trade and connectivity
within and outside Armenia. Public administration reforms supported
under this pillar will also contribute to a more inclusive access
to services, more efficient use of resources, and sound policy
formulation.

Through the second pillar, the DPO will enhance the Armenian economys
resilience to shocks and long-term stability by creating fiscal space,
supporting enhancements to the social protection system, more inclusive
access to public goods and services, and protection of the environment.

In preparation of the first loan disbursement, the World Bank assisted
the authorities in merging two inspection agencies, enhancing the
operations of the credit reporting system, increasing the flexibility
of recruitment and promotion of professional staff and discontinuing
the mandatory periodical attestations, improving competition and
transparency in civil aviation, clarifying aspects of the new funded
pension system, reviewing tax exemptions and excise rates, increasing
coverage of the Family Benefits Scheme, and submitting to parliament
a new Environmental Impact Assessment law.

Over the medium term, the Operation will help the authorities to:
i) reduce the burden on businesses from inspections by downsizing
inspection agencies by 50 percent; ii) improve the efficiency and
transparency of credit reporting, the collateral regime and bankruptcy
framework for better access to credit for SMEs; iii) increase the
attractiveness of the Civil Service for professional staff; iv) expand
efficiency and transparency of the public administration through a
wider and secure application of e-government systems; v) increase
productivity and transparency of customs operations; vi) improve
financial sustainability of drinking water and irrigation agencies;
and vii) ensure regular maintenance of more than 60 percent of roads.

This development policy operation supports a package of reforms
designed to spur consistently higher growth of the Armenian economy,
says Ulrich Bartsch, World Bank Senior Country Economist and Team
Leader of the project. We are helping the Armenian government
in meeting the challenge of job creation through enhancing the
competitiveness and sustainability of its economy.

FRENCH ANIMATION DIRECTOR BASTIEN DUBOIS MAKES “A PORTRAIT” OF NAGORNO- KARABAKH

by Karina Manukyan

Monday, November 11, 18:34

French animation director Bastien Dubois has made a “portrait”
of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Being a guest of Reanimania International Animation Film Festival
in Yerevan, Dubois, together with animation director Marc Boreal and
Annecy Animation Festival Director Tiziana Loschi, visited Nagorno-
Karabakh, where he produced a short animation film as part of his
“Portraits de Voyages” series, including films about Mexico, Haiti,
Brazil, Greece, Syria, Iran and some other countries.

Director of ReAnimania Vrej Kassouny says in his Facebook page that
during the visit Dubois, Boreal and Loschi had their picture taken
near Nagorno-Karabakh’s symbol, “We and Our Mountains” Monument.

NIKOL PASHINYAN TO VOTE FOR NAGORNO-KARABAKH’S INDEPENDENCE JUST TO EXPRESS HIS DISTRUST IN ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT’S POLICY

by Ashot Safaryan

ARMINFO
Wednesday, November 13, 00:36

MP from the opposition Armenian National Congress Nikol
Pashinyan is going to vote for the bill stipulating recognition of
Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence by Armenia just because he wants to
express his distrust in the Armenian Government’s policy,

“It was because of the Robert Kocharyan-Serzh Sarsyan tandem that
Nagorno-Karabakh lost its place at the negotiating table. As a result,
lots of international organizations mention the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict as a territorial dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan. But
this is not what the conflict is about, so, that was a big mistake
on the part of our authorities,” Pashinyan said, noting that instead
of correcting their mistakes, the authorities are rooting the concept
of Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence out of people’s minds.

PRESIDENT ALIYEV: TURKEY ALWAYS SUPPORTS AZERBAIJAN IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT

Trend, Azerbaijan
Nov 12 2013

Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 12

Trend: During the meeting of Azerbaijani and Turkish Presidents,
Ilham Aliyev and Abdullah Gul in Ankara on November 12, various
aspects of bilateral relations were discussed and the exchange of
views was held on the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
Turkish TV channel TRT Haber reported on Nov. 12.

“I once again expressed my gratitude to the Turkish government for
a fair position,” President Aliyev said at a press conference, held
jointly with President Gul.

According to Azerbaijani President, Turkey has always supported
justice and is always close to Azerbaijan in this respect.

“The territory, which is recognized by the international community as
Azerbaijan’s territories, has been for many years occupied by Armenia.

The UN Security Council adopted four resolutions that Armenia does
not fulfill, grossly violating international law. Azerbaijan continues
its efforts to settle this issue,” he underscored.

“But, unfortunately, the position of Armenia does not allow this issue
to be resolved, and restore the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

We suffer from this occupation,” the Head of Azerbaijani State said.

“More than one million of Azerbaijani citizens, for years, have been
refugees and internally displaced persons. There was a policy of
ethnic cleansing against Azerbaijan, and it is impossible to accept
this injustice, President Aliyev said.

He expressed hope that more serious steps will be taken in this regard
in the subsequent months and years and the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan will be restored.

“I want to once again note that this is dictated by historical justice
and international law. Naturally, Turkey’s support multiplies our
strength, and we are grateful for this support,” President Aliyev said.

According to him, the meeting also discussed the projects which bring
Azerbaijan and Turkey together and which have gone beyond regional
boundaries and have become global.

“Each of the projects – the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, Baku-Tbilisi-
Erzurum and Baku-Tbilisi-Kars – is a great event, and a project
that has great success. We were able to achieve the realization of
these projects due to the Turkish-Azerbaijani friendship and unity,
and today we look even further,” the Head of Azerbaijani State said.

President Aliyev noted that Turkey, for the last several years,
has gone a great and successful way.

“The country has turned into a great center of power in the world
under your leadership,” Ilham Aliyev said, referring to Abdullah Gul.

“Turkey shows its principled position not only on regional issues, but
also on the current processes in the world. Much depends on Turkey’s
attitude and position. This encourages us. The stronger Turkey will
be, the stronger Azerbaijan will be,” the President noted.

“A very significant event has occurred in my life today. The highest
award of the fraternal country – State Award was assigned to me. I
consider this award as an estimate of my activity. I tried, and I
will continue to try for Turkish-Azerbaijani relations to develop,”
Ilham Aliyev said.

“My dear brother President Gul and myself, during the recent several
years, were able to do much for strengthening this unity,” the
President said. “Today our relations are at the level of alliance. I
think Turkey and Azerbaijan are the world countries which are closely
related to each other. Our mutual understanding and mutual support
are unique.”

“The issues of mutual investments are being successfully solved,”
Ilham Aliyev said.

The President went on to say that Azerbaijan’s largest investments
abroad are of course made in Turkey.

“This process is underway. Azerbaijani investments in the amount of
$15-17 billion will be made in Turkish economy for the next five
years. At the same time, we welcome investments made by Turkish
companies in Azerbaijan and maintain the relations between businessmen
of the two countries. Today, as always, the issues related to the
cooperation in other spheres have been discussed in an atmosphere of
friendship and brotherhood,” Ilham Aliyev noted.

“As my dear brother stressed, I paid my first visit to Turkey after
the presidential election. This is natural and this is a tradition,
which I am sure will continue in the future. Our strength is in unity,
and our unity is built on history,” he said. “Today, two independent
countries – Turkey and Azerbaijan support and strengthen each other. I
am confident that our cooperation will continue to develop. Dear
brother, thank you again for the hospitality.”