
AGBU Arts Presents Armenians in Jazz
ԳրանցվելԱպրիլ 30, 2025
07:00 pm - 09:00 pm (EST)
The Cutting Room
44 E 32nd St
New York,
NY
10010
United States
$40
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Event details
Experience an extraordinary evening of Armenian jazz with acclaimed musicians Vardan Ovsepian on piano, Emmanuel Hovhannisyan on duduk and blul, Noah Garabedian on bass, and Karen Kocharyan on drums.
The quartet will celebrate Armenia's rich 80-year jazz history, performing works highlighting the English release of late drummer Armen "Chico" Tutunjyan's book, "Jazz in Armenia".

Emmanuel Hovhannisyan
Duduk and Blul
Emmanuel Hovhannisyan is an accomplished duduk player and composer, whose musical journey began with his graduation from the Yerevan State Conservatory in 2005, under the supervision of Professor Dabaghyan. During his time at the conservatory, Emmanuel distinguished himself by participating in several international competitions, earning numerous international prizes for his exceptional musical talent.
Emmanuel’s passion for Armenian folk music is evident in his performances with the Sheram ensemble, which he founded in 2016. This ensemble specializes in interpreting the works of Ashughs (troubadours) from the 16th century onward, breathing new life into these historical pieces. Additionally, Emmanuel founded the Emotion Band in 2015, through which he composed and performed various original compositions, showcasing his versatility and creative prowess.
In 2011, Emmanuel collaborated with the Naghash ensemble to record “Armenian Contemporary Music” by John Hodian, which was honored as the Best Armenian Contemporary Music. His collaboration with the Gurjieff ensemble has also been notably successful, producing several CDs under the independent record label ECM, with the first CD in 2011 winning the prestigious Edison Award— a testament to his contributions to the music industry.
Emmanuel’s career is marked by his dedication to teaching and mentoring new generations of musicians. He began teaching at the Yerevan State Conservatory in 2008 and two years later, he founded the Dudukman Duduk School. His teaching has extended internationally, influencing both children and adults from diverse backgrounds.
In December of 2021, Emmanuel relocated to Los Angeles and, from January 2022, has been a faculty member at UCLA’s Armenian department. He continued his educational endeavors by joining the faculty of the International School of Music in May 2023, where he brings his rich experience and profound musical knowledge to students in the US, Armenia, and Europe.

Vardan Ovsepian
Piano
Vardan Ovsepian is an Armenian-born pianist/composer whose studies include Yerevan State Conservatory, Estonian Music Academy, Helsinki Jazz Conservatory, and Berklee College of Music.
From the early years Vardan was fascinated by the blend of western classical music with jazz and has been in perpetual search for unique ways of incorporating the hybrid formation in his composing and improvising. Consequently, a semi-large chamber ensemble (VOCE) was formed in 2005, focusing on the cinematic approach in the musical narrative.
Throughout the years Vardan has also developed a remarkable angular geometric world, connected to his background in chess, and his attraction to minimalism and modern architecture, resulting in the publication of 2 books: Mirror Exercises (2011) and Permutation Studies (2020).
Another spotlight is the origination of the “Fractal Limit” duet with Tatiana Parra, which has received an immense international recognition. The project showcases Vardan’s remarkable technical proficiency and capacity to articulate contrapuntal textures.
In addition to VOCE and Fractal Limit, Vardan has collaborated with artists like Mick Goodrick, Peter Erskine, Jerry Bergonzi, Tim Miller, Ben Monder, David Binney, and has released 20+ albums as a leader and co-leader.
Resent awards include Fractal Limit’s First Prize at the Achava Jazz Award (Erfurt, Germany - 2017), Chamber Music America Grant for New Jazz Works program funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (New York, NY - 2017).
Presently, Vardan resides in Los Angeles and instructs at CalArts.

Noah Garabedian
Bass
Bass player and composer Noah Garabedian holds a BA in Ethnomusicology from the University of California Los Angeles, and a Master's of Music Performance from New York University. He is a 2022 Calouste Gulbenkian In View grant recipient; 2021 Artist Fellow with Creative Armenia and AGBU; 2022 and 2016 Fulbright Specialist Grant recipient; 2011 finalist for the International Society of Double Bass Competition; 2007 finalist for the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz; 2006 John Coltrane National Scholarship recipient.
As an educator, Mr. Garabedian was a visiting professor through Fulbright to teach jazz music for one month at Silpakorn University in Bangkok, Thailand as well as at the São Paulo State Music School - EMESP Tom Jobim. He currently works with the music outreach program at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Jazz for Young People. He is also currently a part-time faculty at The New School in New York City and works at the Stanford Jazz Workshop. In the past, he has served as an adjunct faculty at NYU and taught with The Weill Institute at Carnegie Hall.
As a composer and bandleader, Noah has released two albums under his own name, as well as one album as a part of the trio collective, Ember. In October 2020, he premiered a commission from the Peace Resource Center at Wilmington College, entitled “The Tragedy of Hate.” He is also the musical director for the dance show, “Rhythm Is Life,” featuring choreographer and world-renowned tap dancer, Dormeshia.
As a sideman, Mr. Garabedian has performed and toured with Ravi Coltrane, Jeff Tain Watts, Andy Milne, Kris Davis, Ralph Alessi, Myron Walden, Nir Felder, Frank LoCrasto, Okkervil River, and Julian Pollack. Mr. Garabedian has represented the US State Department on two separate tours as a musical ambassador where he performed for the public, taught workshops on music, and collaborated with local musicians.

Karen Kocharyan
Drums
Karen Kocharyan is a jazz drummer originally from Yerevan, Armenia. He completed his undergraduate degree at the Komitas State Conservatory of Yerevan and in 1996, he signed a contract with the Paiste Cymbal Company and became a Paiste artist in Tallinn, Estonia, where he completed his master’s at the Georg Ots Tallinn Music College.
Since moving to the US, Karen has played with major musicians such as Jerry Bergonzi, Esperanza Spalding, Tim Miller, Phil Grenadier, John Lockwood, George Garzone, Vardan Ovsepian, Ara Yaralyan, Lefteris Kordis, Santiago Bosch, Matt Stavrakas, Will Slater, Tucker Antell, and many others. When visiting Yerevan, Armenia for performances, he has collaborated with great Armenian musicians such as Vahagn Hayrapetyan, Armen Hyusnunts, Simon Dolmazyan, Artyom Manukyan, Karen Mamikonyan, and Dave Geodakyan.
Karen has recorded on Jerry Bergonzi’s CD project, "By Any Other Name,” and with Phil Grenadier’s Trio CD project, “Shimmer.” Today, Karen lives in Boston, Massachusetts and performs regularly in Boston’s Jazz clubs such as the Beehive.
arts@agbu.org
(212) 691-1900
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