Tigran Hamasayan: Luys I Luso | Album Review

Luys i Luso
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Artist: Tigran Hamasayan
Genre: Jazz
Label: ECM

Could this be the next ECM dinner-party hit? On his label debut, Armenian pianist Tigran Hamasayan's seriousness about exploring his musical heritage is not to be doubted, and the ancientness and profundity of Armenian sacred music are beyond question; but whether those issues are going to matter when ECM's latest jazz-improv-meets-spooky-male-choir reaches the ears of the chattering classes is another matter.

Light from Light, as the name translates, will reward close attention, touching the ancient roots of western music and revealing a pianist of growing international stature; but this delightful filigree of melodic invention, laid over a shifting reed bed of male vocal harmony, will also provide a perfect accompaniment to a goat's cheese salad. I'm just saying. propermusic.com

Cormac Larkin

Cormac Larkin

Cormac Larkin, a contributor to The Irish Times, is a musician, writer and director