Armen Donelian

Poor Hrant Donelian ( born December 1, 1950 in New York City ) is an American pianist of modern jazz.

Life and work

Donelian, the son of Armenian immigrants, had piano lessons from the age of seven. Since 1964 he has played during his studies at Westchester Conservatory ( until 1968 ) he ( to 1972 ), he worked Dixieland in the band of Arthur Ryerson, while studying at Columbia University as a solo pianist in a restaurant and in the student band of Marc Copland. Then he continued his studies privately continued with Richard Beirach. Then he was in the group of Mongo Santamaria, where he was involved in the recording of four albums until 1976 member. He then worked with Ray Barretto, Lionel Hampton, Sonny Rollins, Chet Baker, Roy Ayers and Ted Curson. From 1979 to 1983 he played with Billy Harper, with whom he also toured Europe, Japan and the Middle East. In 1981 he founded his own trio with Eddie Gomez and Ron McClure and Billy Hart and the larger formation " Essence". He also worked with Paquito D' Rivera and Dave Liebman; In 1986 he presented his first solo album "A Reverie ", the three other solo productions with standards, with their own compositions as well as free improvisations followed. He also worked with Dick Oatts, with Anne Marie Moss and Thomas Chapin. From 1988 to 2000 he played in the band Night Ark ( with Ara Dinkjian and Arto Tuncboyaciyan ) ethno-jazz. He also accompanied the Armenian singers Datevik Hovanesian. Donelians personal style is influenced by African-American literature as well as the songs of the Armenian Church, Armenian folk music and North Indian classical music.

Donelian, who taught at the New School University, the Manhattan School of Music and William Paterson University, wrote a hearing school ( " Training the Ear" ), which was also translated into Japanese.

Disco Graphical Notes

  • Stargazer (1981 )
  • Trio '87 ( Odin, 1987, Carl Morten Iversen and with Audun Kleive )
  • The Wayfarer (1990 )
  • Mystic Heights (1999)
  • Leapfrog ( Sunnyside, 2011) with Marc Mommaas, Mike Moreno, Dean Johnson, Tyshawn Sorey

Lexigraphic entries

  • Martin Kunzler, Jazz Encyclopedia Vol 1 Reinbek 2002; ISBN 3-499-16512-0
Armenians Mongo Santamaría Odin Records Integrated Authority File
78532
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