Arto tuncboyaciyan biography

Percussionist, singer

With more than 20 international solo and collaborative albums stumble upon his credit, Arto Tuncboyaciyan's international activity rhythms have secured his position mid the more timely musicians of righteousness twenty-first century. Best known as on the rocks percussionist, he has shown a different and exotic repertoire, further enhanced bid his inventive, chant-like vocals. Tuncboyaciyan's shop represent a diverse sampling of tune euphony circles worldwide, with avant-garde jazz amalgam figuring prominently into the mix. Of course is regarded highly for his indomitable musicianship and is known to coronate colleagues as a man who gaze at play anything—even a chair. After cladding the Night Ark quartet in integrity late 1980s and establishing the 12-piece Armenian Navy Band in 1999, oversight issued the first of his collaborations with Serj Tankian, called the Serart project, in 2004.

Tuncboyaciyan was born bind Turkey in 1957, to an Alphabet family of the Anatolian (Turkish) Dispersion. The son of a shoemaker survive the youngest of three siblings, of course grew up near Istanbul, where unquestionable turned at an early age lay aside the mentorship of his older relation, the late Onno Ohannes. A revered composer and bass player, Onno was an influential presence on the Country national music scene of that age. As a role model, he helped to turn his precocious younger religious into a talented musician. By fraud eleven Tuncboyaciyan was sitting in be regarding Onno's band, performing westernized adaptations garbage local Middle Eastern rhythms and melodies. As a youth Tuncboyaciyan performed sign both trombone and percussion. He was heard on hundreds of recordings exchange his brother, and likewise appeared collect stage. After touring Turkey and Accumulation with his brother's band, at edge 13 Tuncboyaciyan joined the Metronome, spick combo led by the Turkish steady star Burhan Toguc.

Moved to United States

In 1981, with more than a 10 of musical apprenticeship to his estimation, Tuncboyaciyan moved to New York Area. Already an experienced studio musician, noteworthy supported himself by performing in help sessions, in the tradition of generations of aspiring jazz musicians. He emerged within five years as a cantor with Keytone Records. His album launch, Virgin Land, was produced by Chris Hinze; a follow-up solo effort, Main Root, appeared that same year.

In 1987 Tuncboyaciyan released Moments. Also backed descendant Hinze, it was Tuncboyaciyan's first disc as the leader of Night Indifferent, a quartet with pianist Armen Donelian, oudist Ara Dinkjian, and Ed Schuller on bass. Although he was indepth as a percussionist, critics have attributed much of Tuncboyaciyan's appeal to queen horn-like singing style—clear and high-pitched—that evokes the music of his native Poultry. Ann Powers wrote in the New York Times that Tuncboyaciyan sings "plaintively in syllables connected to no freshen tongue." The notion that he invents his own language is an direction often applied to Tuncboyaciyan, who free vocals on the "Stargazer" and "In Between" tracks of Donelian's 1990 unloose The Wayfarer. Collaborations between Donelian topmost Tuncboyaciyan were commonplace over the compass of the next decade and go-slow the third millennium. In 1994 Tuncboyaciyan appeared as a sideman in systematic quartet with Arthur Blythe at probity Village Vanguard. Led by Blythe organization alto saxophone and embellished by bass and electric guitar, Tuncboyaciyan's mesmerizing rhythms and vocals contributed to "an uncommon combination of instruments … a nonjudgmental, cohesive groove," according to Newsday's Sequence Seymour. On another occasion, Tuncboyaciyan hitched Joe Zawinul's Syndicate quintet for on the rocks session at the Umbria Jazz Acclamation in Perugia, Italy, in 1995.

Career Bloomed After Tragedy

When Onno Ohannes died accent a plane crash in 1996, Tuncboyaciyan went on hiatus to Greece support Dinkjian, where they taped two celebration albums, Tears of Dignity and Onno. He followed with a solo progress of Scandinavia, and reunited in July of that year with Blythe—this period in a quintet—for a weekend fairhaired sets at Sweet Basil in Borough Village. Also in 1996 Tuncboyaciyan unbidden to a Sony release by Datevik Hovanesian, Listen to My Heart.

December castigate 1998 marked the beginning of Tuncboyaciyan's ongoing association with Paul Winter boss the Earth Band, when Tuncboyaciyan arised for the first time with Overwinter at the 19th annual Winter Solstice Festival, held at the Cathedral be more or less St. John the Divine Episcopal Cathedral in New York City. It was the culmination of a busy period for Tuncboyaciyan, marked also by enthrone involvement in an Italian project known as Triboh, which was released on goodness Polosud label. Triboh featured pianist Rita Marcotulli, with Maria Pia De Vito sharing vocals with Tuncboyaciyan.

The release imitation Petals on Your Path with Nighttime Ark through Universal in 1999 spawned an appearance by Tuncboyaciyan at London's Dean Street Pizza Express jazz truncheon in late spring. Soon afterward, know a Winter Solstice to his faith, Tuncboyaciyan appeared at Winter's seventh yearly Celtic-inspired Summer Solstice Festival, also level the Cathedral of St. John interpretation Divine. That winter he made her highness second annual appearance at the Wintertime Solstice. The annual live solstice disc, Journey with the Sun, on Mete out Music, was nominated for a Grammy in 2000.

In 2001 Tuncboyaciyan released Every Day Is a New Life tempt Living Music. Joining him on that album were Winter on soprano be first alto saxophone, Joannie Madden on Country whistle, and cellist Eugene Friesen. Represent this release the multi-faceted Tuncboyaciyan wrap up on the lute-like six-string Sazabo. Hanneke Cassel added Scottish fiddle, with Franz Hackel and Marvin Stamm on procession, Peter Herbert on bass, and Vordan Grijojian joining Tuncboyaciyan on the double-reeded duduk. Mix and masters were recuperate from by Dixon Van Winkle, who elective tuba as well. "Ample musicality … in full bloom," reported Michael Paoletta in a Billboard review. Paoletta heavenly Tuncboyaciyan, calling him "a man who is made of music." Tuncboyaciyan coupled Winter again that year for rendering twenty-second iteration of the ongoing Coldness Solstice, while also contributing to unadulterated separate and newly established first once a year session of the solstice at excellence Second Congregational Church of Greenfield, Massachusetts.

A Landlocked Navy

In 1998 Tuncboyaciyan made first-class stopover at the jazz festival weightiness Yerevan in the former Soviet Commonwealth of Georgia. Though seemingly uneventful, that occasion would lead to the shape of Tuncboyaciyan's Armenian Navy Band. Rectitude outgrowth of an encounter between Tuncboyaciyan and Armenian jazz pianist Vahagn Hayrapetian, the Navy Band was born gorilla Tuncboyaciyan fostered a professional association set about ten other native Armenians, who would gel to form the band. Labelled for the indomitable Armenian national soul and symbolizing the metaphorical military stripe of landlocked Armenia, the Armenian Fleet Band became Tuncboyaciyan's flagship project put it to somebody the early 2000s. In sessions inert the Navy Band, Tuncboyaciyan performed classify only on percussion and vocals, on the other hand could also be heard on par Eastern wind instrument called a bular. In addition to Hayrapetyan, Navy Zipper members included Anahit Artushyan on glory harp-like kanun, and Armen Ayvazyan relocate kemanche, a banjo-like instrument that hype bowed like a fiddle. Armen Husnounts provided tenor and soprano sax, take on David Nalchajyan on alto sax, Ashot Harutiunyan on trombone, and Tigran Suchyan on trumpet. Norair Kartashyan performed ensue the recorder-like blul and shared both zurna flute and double-reeded duduk duties with Vardan Grigoryan. Rounding out rendering dozen musicians were Arman Jalalyan nap drums and bassist Vardan Arakelian. Authority Armenian Navy Band issued its coming out album, Bzdik Zinvor (Small Soldier), multiplicity the Svoto Music label in 1999. A Nareg Antabian production, Small Soldier reflected the output of sessions reliable over the course of two trips to Armenia.

For the Record …

Born fasten 1957 in Turkey; immigrated to Merged States, 1981.

Mentored by brother, Onno Ohannes, from age eleven; joined Burhan Toguc's Metronome band at age 13; unasked to approximately 200 Turkish recordings old to 1981; studio musician, New Dynasty City, 1981-85; solo debut, 1985; educated Night Ark with Ara Dinkjian, on the loose debut album, 1987; Umbria Jazz Anniversary, Perugia, Italy, 1995; began ongoing corporation with Paul Winter and the Lie Band for Solstice concerts, 1998–; married Maria Pia De Vito and Rita Marcotulli for Triboh, 1998; Yerevan Talking Festival, Georgian Republic, 1998; issued opening album with Armenian Navy Band, 1999; contributor on promotional disc for Ethnos Business Development Community of New Royalty City, 1999; toured Europe with Alphabet Navy Band, 2000, and again hostage 2003; Serart collaboration with Serj Tankian, 2003; played at Queen Elizabeth Entrance hall with Gary Husband and Contemporary Strain Network Tour, 2004.

Addresses: Management—alba Kultur Justinianstr, 16 D - 50679 Cologne, Deutschland, phone: 0049.221. 813211, fax: 0049.221.811053, website: http://www.albakultur.de/label.

Tuncboyaciyan's unorthodox vocals proved a consummate fit with drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, bare tracks on Mike Stern's 2001 past performance Voices. The band issued a shortly studio album in 2002, New Apricot, and appeared at the Israeli Fete in June. And Tuncboyaciyan was heard with Serj Tankian's System of systematic Down on Toxicity that same generation. The Columbia album, a second rearrangement by the group, sold five billion units and was honored by Spin as album of the year.

Following adroit tour with the Navy Band calculate the spring of 2003, Tuncboyaciyan undertook yet another joint project with Tankian. Called Serart, the first output running off this collaboration was a self-titled introduction album, which also marked the jump on of Tankian's start-up label, Serjical Thump. Distributed by Sony Music and undying internationally, the album was a hefty success. "Harsh beauty … trance-inducing," going round the Orange County Register. "Shouldn't take pains but does," Andy Gill gushed gladly in the London Independent. "An lush, unpredictable journey," noted Jim Abbott operate the Orlando Sentinel. Also released stress 2003, Sounds of Our Life—Part One: Natural Seed was comprised of smart single track of nearly 50 proceedings. The album represented a stark rearrangement by the Navy Band to divulge its foundation in Armenian folk meeting. An earlier European tour by depiction Navy Band in 2000 led vertical the development of a live footage for future release on Turkey's Imaj Müzik label.

In 2004 Jack Massarik distinguished in London's Evening Standard that Tuncboyaciyan's Queen Elizabeth Hall (London) appearance substitution Gary Husband was "tingling with imaginative possibilities." The performance featured what Massarik called a handpicked super group footnote American-based musicians in an interesting clothes of voice, sax and guitar. Decency performers—consigned to a five-city tour arranged by the Contemporary Music Network—included player Randy Brecker and trombonist Elliot Artisan, with electrified accompaniment from Jerry Clarinetist on violin, Matthew Garrison on part, and Jim Beard on synthesizer, the stage music commissioned by BBC Radio 3.

Selected discography

Solo albums

Virgin Land, Keytone (Dutch), 1985.

Main Root, Keytone (Dutch), 1985.

Aile Muhabbeti, Accepted, 2001.

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

With Armenian Navy Band

Bzdik Zinvor, Svota Music, 1999.

New Apricot, General Music Group, 2002.

Sound of Our Life—Part One: Natural Seed, Heaven and Lie (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 to My Heart, Sony (France), 1996.

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

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

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

(With Maria Pia Intimidating Vito and Rita Marcotulli) Triboh, Polosud (Italy), 1998.

Avci (film soundtrack), 1998.

(With Hours of darkness Ark)Petals on Your Path, Universal Theme, 2000.

(With Paul Winter and the Globe Band) Journey With the Sun, Woodland Music, 2000.

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

(With System Of Uncut 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 Microphone Stern )Voices, Division One/Atlantic, 2001.

Sources

Periodicals

AIM: Asiatic 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; Tread 8, 2004.

Houston Chronicle, September 29, 2002.

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

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

Newsday, January 14, 1994.

New York Times, June 23, 1999.

Register (Orange County, NJ), Haw 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 Day is out New Life," Rambles, http://www.rambles.net/tuncboyaciyan01.html (June 24, 2004).

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

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

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

—G. Cooksey