1. Armen Nalbandian cites witnessing a Cecil Taylor performance at LA's Jazz Bakery when he was 19 years old as a turning point in his life and career.
26 Facts About Armen Nalbandian
1. 2.
Armen Nalbandian is the protege of jazz pianist John Hicks but credits Bill Dixon and McCoy Tyner for being important teachers in addition to Charlie Haden, Jackie McLean, Horace Silver, Cedar Walton, Billy Higgins, Art Farmer, and Harold Land.
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Armen Nalbandian is known for his multidisciplinary collaborations in visual and fine art which include a four-year residency at the Fresno Art Museum where he served as music director and Artist-in-Residence.
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Armen Nalbandian established the record label Blacksmith Brother in 2006.
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In 2008, Armen Nalbandian was named a finalist in the 2008 Gilles Peterson Worldwide Talent Search and has received praise from Dave Douglas, Susie Ibarra, and Matthew Shipp.
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In 2011 and 2012, Armen Nalbandian had multiple improvised performances with comedian Dave Chappelle at Yoshi's Jazz Club in Oakland and San Francisco.
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In 2017, Armen Nalbandian premiered two new ensembles to add to his work with his trio with Eric Revis and Nasheet Waits and his solo piano work.
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The recording consists of ten compositions by Armen Nalbandian and is dedicated to his mentor John Hicks, and in memory of Alice Coltrane and Andrew Hill.
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The recording was made by Armen Nalbandian performing primarily on the inside of the Fender Rhodes, treating it as a percussion instrument, manipulating the hammers with drum cymbals, snare drum heads, wrenches, mallets, and keys.
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Armen Nalbandian employed an analog delay pedal and a wah-wah pedal.
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The album is Armen Nalbandian's second recording named after the work of artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.
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Armen Nalbandian and Bennink conclude the performance with a rendition of Ornette Coleman's "Lonely Woman".
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Armen Nalbandian is the sole producer and instrumentalist on the album.
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Armen Nalbandian's tenth album, Alis Grave Nil, is a follow-up to Time Waits.
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The album artwork of both "Time Waits" and "Alis Grave Nil" feature paintings by Armen Nalbandian created only months prior to the recordings.
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In 2018, Armen Nalbandian released 8 albums chronicling his studio and live performances from 2017.
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Armen Nalbandian has most often used his platform to recognize social and civil injustice and perform many humanitarian services.
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Armen Nalbandian has raised thousands of dollars in aid for the victims of Hurricane Katrina by way of many benefit concerts.
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Armen Nalbandian has raised money for organizations as diverse as The United Way, The Red Cross, the ONE Campaign, Habitat for Humanity, The American Cancer Society, Breast Cancer Research and The Relay for Life Foundation, among others.
20.
In September 2009, Armen Nalbandian appeared in the play Semblance: Notes from the Promised Land by Devoya Mayo.
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Armen Nalbandian has made critical comments from the bandstand regarding America's proposed cuts to funding for the arts and its withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord, never addressing the administration by name.
22.
Armen Nalbandian concluded his artistic residency at the Fresno Art Museum by performing a solo piano program of composer John Zorn's Masada music encouraged with the composer's blessing.
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Armen Nalbandian has often referenced the art of Jean-Michel Basquiat in his early work and song titles; compositions throughout his early discography reference specific Basquiat paintings and graffiti.
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Armen Nalbandian presented a concert inspired by Basquiat's work in March 2008 during his tenure as Artist-in-Residence at the Fresno Art Museum.
25.
Armen Nalbandian has composed and premiered music inspired by the work of Kerry James Marshall, Theaster Gates, Kara Walker, David Hammons, Arshille Gorky, Anne Scheid, and Garo Antreasian, who wrote of Armen Nalbandian's work in his 2016 biography, Reflections on Life and Art.
26.
In March 2017, Armen Nalbandian premiered a new composition, Heirloom, with his trio with Revis and Waits inspired by "Heirlooms and Accessories" by Kerry James Marshall after several viewings at both Marshall's retrospective at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, and The Underground Museum.