5.24.12 Vardan Ovsepian “Chromaticity” CD Release + Birthday Celebration with Miguel Atwood-Ferguson [viola] + Artyom Manukyan [cello] + Kio Griffith [video]

“…There’s a pianist out of Boston who made a beautiful record for the Fresh Sound label called ‘Sketch Book’; his name is Vardan Ovsepian…” -Brad Mehldau (JazzReview.com)

“Vardan brings his own sound and ingredients… I have never heard any musician quite like him in terms of harmonic awareness and melodic power. I suspect that he will prove to be quite a sensation…”- Peter Erskine

“…Anyone with an allegiance to the ECM sound will find a great deal to like on these two quartet albums – the windblown pastels, the serious dramas and the clear thematic arcs…” - Greg Buium (Downbeat.com)

Performs solo as well as with artists such as Mick Goodrick, Peter Erskine, Jerry Bergonzi and many others. In addition to teaching at The Musical Suite in Newburyport, MA, performed and taught master classes at Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival, Maine Jazz Camp (ME), Towson University (MD), Susquehanna University (PA), Bucknell University (PA), Wheeler School (RI), Estonian Music Academy (Tallinn, Estonia).

A “Fresh Sound New Talent” recording artist who has released 4 CDs with the Barcelona-based label, plus an independent release of Vardan Ovsepian Chamber Ensemble (VOCE)

Vardan Ovsepian website

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Miguel Atwood-Ferguson is a highly-creative multi-instrumentalist/dj/arranger/composer/music director/producer/educator residing in Los Angeles, California. He has recorded on close to 200 commercially available recordings. As a violist he has appeared with Outkast at the Kid’s Choice Awards on the Nickolodean Channel, Rihanna on the Jay Leno Show and at the 2007 American Music Awards, Christina Aguilera on her 2006 MTV special ‘Back to Basics’ and with John Legend and Kirk Franklin at the 2008 B.E.T. Gospel Celebration. He has also appeared with Shakira, Wyclef Jean, and Gnarls Barkley at the 2007 Grammy Awards, and with Hall and Oates on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Extra, and The Megan Mullally Show and with Pink at the 2008 American Music Awards. In 2009, Miguel was on the season finale of ‘America’s Got Talent’ backing up Susan Boyle. Miguel has also had his own segments devoted to him on the Disney Channel and KCET. Miguel graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in viola performance and has performed in orchestral settings with Wayne Shorter, Stevie Wonder, John Williams, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Roy Hargrove, Francisco Aguabella, Chuchito Valdes, Ray Brown, Brad Mehldau, Quincy Jones, James Galway, Vince Mendoza and Henry Mancini among many others. As a studio musician he has recorded for Willi.i.am, Erykah Badu, Dr. Dre, John Cale, Barry Manilow, Joss Stone, Bilal, Michael Buble, Rene Olmstead, Common, Randy Jackson, Travis Tritt, Flying Lotus, Raphael Saadiq, and on Ray Charles’ grammy winning album ‘Genius Loves Company’. As a jazz soloist, Miguel has played/recorded alongside Hubert Laws, Billy Higgins, Brian Blade, Alphonse Mouzon, Airto Moreira, Buster Williams, Saul Williams, Dwight Trible, Patrice Rushen, Ndugu Chancler, Mulatu Astatke, Bennie Maupin, Azar Lawrence and Ravi Coltrane. He has performed at top venues around the world and tours Europe regularly. Miguel has very diverse interests and performs/tours and records with ensembles ranging from tango, electronica, avante-garde jazz, classical, hip-hop, to pop music. He has performed on the world famous radio show ‘Worldwide’ hosted by Gilles Peterson on th BBC in London and on local Los Angeles stations KUSC 91.5, KCRW 89.9 and KPFK 90.7. Miguel is building towards having his own orchestra playing music from across the globe with international musicians of peace and love. Miguel also supports his community by doing outreach concerts for kids and volunteering in hospitals and resting homes.

Miguel Atwood-Ferguson website

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Like most Armenian musicians, Artyom Manukyan is a full-time musician, in the true sense of the word. Music isn’t just something he does on the side, or in between part-time jobs – it’s his livelihood, his sole source of income, and his lifelong passion. “I think in musical terms,” says the young musician. “I see everything through music.” His latest project is a jazz quartet called Nooz, where he presents the cello, classically used in chamber music, as a modern instrument. I recently went to a Nooz show and was absolutely in awe of the sounds that the talented artist was able to produce from an instrument I always associated with Bach and Brahms.

From baroque to hip hop, Artyom Manukyan’s musical flair seems to have no limits. Somehow, between practices and gigs with three different bands, the multi-talented artist has found time to nurture yet another one of his musical passions, hip hop. He and a friend from Los Angeles are starting a productions company called New People in Yerevan. They have created arrangements for some of Armenia’s biggest hip hop and pop stars, like Hay Tgheq and Inga & Anush. It may seem a bit unusual for a classically trained cellist to branch into hip hop, but hip hop has been a driving force in Manukyan’s life for as far back as he can remember. Now that he is actually creating and working in the field, it’s like his childhood dreams are coming true. “Hip hop is my second life,” he says with a smile.

At 25, Manukyan still has a long career ahead of him, and considering he started playing cello almost by chance, who knows what exciting twists and turns the future will bring. Cello is one of those instruments that sort of got left behind with the classical era. With the rise of jazz and rock, it just didn’t make the cool list. There’s no shortage of drummers and guitarists out there, but when was the last time someone told you they played the cello? Manukyan, who started playing when he was nine, is something of an advocate for the versatility and modern relevance of the antiquated instrument, but his love affair with music and with the cello had a not so glamorous start.

Artyom Manukyan website