Chris Tordini

Tigran Hamasyan’s Shadow Theater concert at Cité de la musique in Paris captures the pianist at a remarkably creative moment in his career. Recorded on September 5, 2013, the performance blends contemporary jazz with Armenian folk traditions, progressive rock, and intricate rhythmic ideas. Hamasyan moves effortlessly between delicate melodic passages and explosive, highly percussive piano playing. The music draws heavily from the atmospheric and adventurous sound world of his acclaimed Shadow Theater project. Complex time signatures and rapidly shifting dynamics give the concert an unpredictable and exciting character.