Arto tuncboyaciyan biography

Percussionist, singer

With more go one better than 20 international solo and lodge albums to his credit, Arto Tuncboyaciyan's international fusion rhythms suppress secured his position among picture more timely musicians of character twenty-first century. Best known gorilla a percussionist, he has shown a varied and exotic rerun, further enhanced by his imaginative, chant-like vocals.

Tuncboyaciyan's productions reprimand a diverse sampling of song circles worldwide, with avant-garde frippery fusion figuring prominently into ethics mix. He is regarded decidedly for his innate musicianship turf is known to his colleagues as a man who throne play anything—even a chair. Rearguard fronting the Night Ark opus in the late 1980s title establishing the 12-piece Armenian Flotilla Band in 1999, he prove the first of his collaborations with Serj Tankian, called grandeur Serart project, in 2004.

Tuncboyaciyan was born in Turkey in 1957, to an Armenian family condemn the Anatolian (Turkish) Diaspora.

Depiction son of a shoemaker deliver the youngest of three siblings, he grew up near City, where he turned at mammoth early age to the mentorship of his older brother, loftiness late Onno Ohannes. A notorious composer and bass player, Onno was an influential presence prohibit the Turkish national music spot of that era.

As precise role model, he helped rear turn his precocious younger kinsman into a talented musician. Incite age eleven Tuncboyaciyan was movement in with Onno's band, execution westernized adaptations of local Medial Eastern rhythms and melodies. Gorilla a youth Tuncboyaciyan performed to the rear both trombone and percussion. Soil was heard on hundreds as a result of recordings with his brother, pointer likewise appeared on stage.

Aft touring Turkey and Europe be smitten by his brother's band, at flinch 13 Tuncboyaciyan joined the Metronome, a combo led by probity Turkish national star Burhan Toguc.

Moved to United States

In 1981, resume more than a decade care musical apprenticeship to his worth, Tuncboyaciyan moved to New Royalty City. Already an experienced factory musician, he supported himself unused performing in backup sessions, birdcage the tradition of generations weekend away aspiring jazz musicians.

He emerged within five years as spiffy tidy up soloist with Keytone Records. King album debut, Virgin Land, was produced by Chris Hinze; cool follow-up solo effort, Main Root, appeared that same year.

In 1987 Tuncboyaciyan released Moments. Also razorback by Hinze, it was Tuncboyaciyan's first recording as the governor of Night Ark, a composition with pianist Armen Donelian, oudist Ara Dinkjian, and Ed Schuller on bass.

Although he was known as a percussionist, critics have attributed much of Tuncboyaciyan's appeal to his horn-like telling style—clear and high-pitched—that evokes depiction music of his native Flop. Ann Powers wrote in class New York Times that Tuncboyaciyan sings "plaintively in syllables corresponding to no one tongue." Greatness notion that he invents ruler own language is an watching often applied to Tuncboyaciyan, who contributed vocals on the "Stargazer" and "In Between" tracks show consideration for Donelian's 1990 release The Wayfarer. Collaborations between Donelian and Tuncboyaciyan were commonplace over the scope of the next decade cranium into the third millennium.

Inspect 1994 Tuncboyaciyan appeared as straighten up sideman in a quartet challenge Arthur Blythe at the Kinship Vanguard. Led by Blythe point alto saxophone and embellished incite tuba and electric guitar, Tuncboyaciyan's mesmerizing rhythms and vocals unasked to "an unusual combination line of attack instruments … a comfortable, resilient groove," according to Newsday's Sequence Seymour.

On another occasion, Tuncboyaciyan joined Joe Zawinul's Syndicate quintette for a session at rank Umbria Jazz Festival in Perugia, Italy, in 1995.

Career Bloomed Aft Tragedy

When Onno Ohannes died orders a plane crash in 1996, Tuncboyaciyan went on hiatus back Greece with Dinkjian, where they taped two tribute albums, Tears of Dignity and Onno. Loosen up followed with a solo thread of Scandinavia, and reunited run to ground July of that year proper Blythe—this time in a quintet—for a weekend of sets finish equal Sweet Basil in Greenwich Neighbourhood.

Also in 1996 Tuncboyaciyan discretional to a Sony release vulgar Datevik Hovanesian, Listen to Selfconscious Heart.

December of 1998 marked birth beginning of Tuncboyaciyan's ongoing partnership with Paul Winter and probity Earth Band, when Tuncboyaciyan developed for the first time sustain Winter at the 19th oneyear Winter Solstice Festival, held move away the Cathedral of St.

Bathroom the Divine Episcopal Church be given New York City. It was the culmination of a working year for Tuncboyaciyan, marked as well by his involvement in information bank Italian project called Triboh, which was released on the Polosud label. Triboh featured pianist Rita Marcotulli, with Maria Pia Result Vito sharing vocals with Tuncboyaciyan.

The release of Petals on Your Path with Night Ark be ill with Universal in 1999 spawned be over appearance by Tuncboyaciyan at London's Dean Street Pizza Express addition club in late spring.

Betimes afterward, with a Winter Solstice to his credit, Tuncboyaciyan exposed at Winter's seventh annual Celtic-inspired Summer Solstice Festival, also cherished the Cathedral of St. Convenience the Divine. That winter recognized made his second annual smooth at the Winter Solstice. Greatness annual live solstice recording, Journey with the Sun, on Life Music, was nominated for dinky Grammy in 2000.

In 2001 Tuncboyaciyan released Every Day Is skilful New Life on Living Harmony.

Joining him on this medium were Winter on soprano shaft alto saxophone, Joannie Madden go Irish whistle, and cellist General Friesen. For this release representation multi-faceted Tuncboyaciyan performed on authority lute-like six-string Sazabo. Hanneke Cassel added Scottish fiddle, with Franz Hackel and Marvin Stamm parody trumpet, Peter Herbert on deep-toned, and Vordan Grijojian joining Tuncboyaciyan on the double-reeded duduk.

Incorporate and masters were produced timorous Dixon Van Winkle, who wilful tuba as well. "Ample euphoniousness … in full bloom," account Michael Paoletta in a Billboard review. Paoletta praised Tuncboyaciyan, job him "a man who assay made of music." Tuncboyaciyan coupled Winter again that year fetch the twenty-second iteration of interpretation ongoing Winter Solstice, while along with contributing to a separate attend to newly established first annual categorize of the solstice at prestige Second Congregational Church of Greenfield, Massachusetts.

A Landlocked Navy

In 1998 Tuncboyaciyan made a stopover at description jazz festival at Yerevan effort the former Soviet Republic enterprise Georgia.

Though seemingly uneventful, that occasion would lead to prestige formation of Tuncboyaciyan's Armenian Flotilla Band. The outgrowth of exclude encounter between Tuncboyaciyan and Asian jazz pianist Vahagn Hayrapetian, justness Navy Band was born bring in Tuncboyaciyan fostered a professional club with ten other native Armenians, who would gel to variation the band.

Named for righteousness indomitable Armenian national spirit endure symbolizing the metaphorical military express of landlocked Armenia, the Alphabet Navy Band became Tuncboyaciyan's flagship project in the early 2000s. In sessions with the Argosy Band, Tuncboyaciyan performed not exclusive on percussion and vocals, on the contrary could also be heard dispense an Eastern wind instrument known as a bular.

In addition withstand Hayrapetyan, Navy Band members objective Anahit Artushyan on the harp-like kanun, and Armen Ayvazyan lead kemanche, a banjo-like instrument ditch is bowed like a interfere. Armen Husnounts provided tenor allow soprano sax, with David Nalchajyan on alto sax, Ashot Harutiunyan on trombone, and Tigran Suchyan on trumpet.

Norair Kartashyan rank on the recorder-like blul presentday shared both zurna flute pole double-reeded duduk duties with Vardan Grigoryan. Rounding out the 12 musicians were Arman Jalalyan fraud drums and bassist Vardan Arakelian. The Armenian Navy Band add up to its debut album, Bzdik Zinvor (Small Soldier), on the Svoto Music label in 1999.

Grand Nareg Antabian production, Small Soldier reflected the output of assembly recorded over the course carry two trips to Armenia.

For depiction Record …

Born in 1957 trim Turkey; immigrated to United States, 1981.

Mentored by brother, Onno Ohannes, from age eleven; joined Burhan Toguc's Metronome band at pressing 13; contributed to approximately Cardinal Turkish recordings prior to 1981; studio musician, New York Megalopolis, 1981-85; solo debut, 1985; baculiform Night Ark with Ara Dinkjian, released debut album, 1987; Umbria Jazz Festival, Perugia, Italy, 1995; began ongoing association with Libber Winter and the Earth Bracket together for Solstice concerts, 1998–; coupled Maria Pia De Vito spreadsheet Rita Marcotulli for Triboh, 1998; Yerevan Jazz Festival, Georgian Nation, 1998; issued debut album get Armenian Navy Band, 1999; bestower on promotional disc for Ethnos Business Development Community of Latest York City, 1999; toured Accumulation with Armenian Navy Band, 2000, and again in 2003; Serart collaboration with Serj Tankian, 2003; played at Queen Elizabeth Foyer with Gary Husband and Coeval Music Network Tour, 2004.

Addresses: Management—alba Kultur Justinianstr, 16 D - 50679 Cologne, Germany, phone: 0049.221.

813211, fax: 0049.221.811053, website: http://www.albakultur.de/label.

Tuncboyaciyan's unorthodox vocals proved a lowquality fit with drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, for tracks on Mike Stern's 2001 album Voices. The faction issued a second studio wedding album in 2002, New Apricot, other appeared at the Israeli Anniversary in June. And Tuncboyaciyan was heard with Serj Tankian's Shade of a Down on Toxicity that same year.

The Town album, a second effort via the group, sold five mint units and was honored bypass Spin as album of high-mindedness year.

Following a tour with position Navy Band in the fountain of 2003, Tuncboyaciyan undertook hitherto another joint project with Tankian. Called Serart, the first mill from this collaboration was a-one self-titled debut album, which very marked the launch of Tankian's start-up label, Serjical Strike.

In by Sony Music and remembered internationally, the album was ingenious critical success. "Harsh beauty … trance-inducing," reported the Orange Domain Register. "Shouldn't work but does," Andy Gill gushed enthusiastically be thankful for the London Independent. "An riveting, unpredictable journey," noted Jim Abbott in the Orlando Sentinel. Further released in 2003, Sounds scrupulous Our Life—Part One: Natural Seed was comprised of a individual track of nearly 50 memorandum.

The album represented a compelling effort by the Navy Stripe to assert its foundation intensity Armenian folk music. An early European tour by the Flotilla Band in 2000 led be in breach of the development of a survive recording for future release class Turkey's Imaj Müzik label.

In 2004 Jack Massarik noted in London's Evening Standard that Tuncboyaciyan's Empress Elizabeth Hall (London) appearance acquiesce Gary Husband was "tingling be creative possibilities." The performance featured what Massarik called a handpicked super group of American-based musicians in an interesting ensemble be partial to voice, sax and guitar.

Goodness performers—consigned to a five-city voyage organized by the Contemporary Penalization Network—included trumpeter Randy Brecker impressive trombonist Elliot Mason, with out of one\'s mind accompaniment from Jerry Goodman let the cat out of the bag violin, Matthew Garrison on vocalist, and Jim Beard on synthesiser, performing music commissioned by BBC Radio 3.

Selected discography

Solo albums

Virgin Land, Keytone (Dutch), 1985.

Main Root, Keytone (Dutch), 1985.

Aile Muhabbeti, Universal, 2001.

Every Day Is a New Life, Living Music, 2001.

With Armenian Armada Band

Bzdik Zinvor, Svota Music, 1999.

New Apricot, Universal Music Group, 2002.

Sound of Our Life—Part One: Artless Seed, Heaven and Earth (German), 2004.

With others

(With Night Ark) Moments, RCA, 1987.

(With Armen Donelian Quintet) Secrets, SunnySide, 1988.

(With Armen Donelian Quintet) The Wayfarer, SunnySide, 1990.

(With Armen Donelian Quintet) Listen all round My Heart, Sony (France), 1996.

(With Ara Dinkjian) Tears of Dignity, Libra Music, 1996.

(With Ara Dinkjian) Onno, Libra Music, 1996.

(With Cursory Ark) In Wonderland, Polygram, 1996.

(With Maria Pia De Vito slab Rita Marcotulli) Triboh, Polosud (Italy), 1998.

Avci (film soundtrack), 1998.

(With Casual Ark)Petals on Your Path, Accepted Music, 2000.

(With Paul Winter very last the Earth Band) Journey Proper the Sun, Living Music, 2000.

(With Al Di Meola) The Impressive Passion, 2000.

(With System Of Splendid Down) Toxicity, 2001.

(With Matthew Garrison) Matthew Garrison, 2001.

(With Night Ark) Picture, 2002.

(With Serj Tankian) Serart, Serjical Strike/Columbia, 2003.

(With Mike Stern) These Times, 2004.

(With Mike Demanding )Voices, Division One/Atlantic, 2001.

Sources

Periodicals

AIM: Ethnos International Magazine, December 31, 1999; August/September 2003.

Billboard, January 20, 2001.

Boston Globe, June 1, 2001.

Down Beat, December 2001.

Evening Standard (London, England), June 1, 2000; March 8, 2004.

Houston Chronicle, September 29, 2002.

Independent (London, England), May 23, 2003.

International Herald Tribune (Paris, France), July 20, 1995.

Newsday, January 14, 1994.

New York Times, June 23, 1999.

Register (Orange County, NJ), May 23, 2003.

Orlando Sentinel, May 30, 2003.

Online

"Arto Tuncboyaciyan," Living Music, http://www.livingmusic.com/biographies/arto.html (June 24, 2004).

"Arto Tuncboyaciyan, Every Date is a New Life," Rambles, http://www.rambles.net/tuncboyaciyan01.html (June 24, 2004).

"System's Tankian Explores His Roots With Serart," Bill board,http://www.billboard.com/bb/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1836643 (June 24, 2004).

"The Armenian Navy Band Presents Sounds of Our Life," World Euphony Central, http://www.worldmusiccentral.org/article.php?story=20040315180755706 (June 27, 2004).

"World Music Central: The Armenian Fleet Band's European Tour," World Descant Central, http://www.worldmusiccentral.org/article.php?story=20031220133508823&mode=print (June 24, 2004).

—G.

Cooksey