Mockroot
The Armenian-born American pianist and composer Tigran Hamasyan—winner of the 2006 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition—writes and plays music that dazzles the listener with its high-octane virtuosity. On *Mockroot*, Hamasyan, electric bassist Sam Minaie, and drummer Arthur Huatek whiplash through material that features odd-meter rhythms and sudden shifts. The music is often marked by traditional Armenian elements, as well as dramatic flashes of prog rock and fusion. Quieter cuts, such as “The Roads That Bring Me Closer to You” and “The Apple Orchard in Saghmosavanq,” serve as a nice contrast to the blazing speed and fury.
Tigran Hamasyan's label debut, Mockroot, comprises new tracks written by Hamasyan, as well as his arrangements of traditional Armenian songs. Although trained as a classical and jazz musician, Hamasyan draws on a wide range of influences, including Armenian folk music, rock, electronica, poetry, and more. "There are many brilliant and perfectly finished young jazz pianists around," says the Telegraph, "but Hamasyan stands out because he has something important and urgent to say." "You will find it difficult if not impossible to get this disc out of your machine for quite a while," raves the Buffalo News. "Don’t count on getting it out of your head for a long while either."
Tigran Hamasyan brings virtuosity and subtlety to bear on this intriguing set of original and traditional material, writes <strong>John Fordham</strong>