Armen Donelian

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Armen Hrant Donelian (born December 1, 1950) [1] is a jazz pianist, composer, educator and author.

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Donelian was classically trained at the Westchester Conservatory of Music in White Plains, New York. He has appeared since 1975 as a featured soloist and bandleader, and with an array of jazz musicians, including Sonny Rollins, in international venues. A composer of over 100 works reflecting Classical, Middle Eastern and jazz influences, Donelian has produced 13 albums. He has received multiple awards as a Fulbright Senior Scholar and Specialist and an NEA Jazz Fellow. An educator at several New York institutions for 30 years, including The New School and William Paterson University, Donelian is also the author of Training The Ear Vol. 1 & 2 and offers master classes at leading throughout the world. A graduate of Columbia University and private student of Michael Pollon, Carl Bamberger, Ludmila Ulehla, Harold Seletsky and Richie Beirach, [2] Donelian is the co-founder with Marc Mommaas of the Hudson Jazz Workshop.

Discography

As leader/co-leader

Year releasedTitleLabelNotes
1981Stargazer Atlas w/Eddie Gomez & Billy Hart
1986A Reverie: Solo Piano Sunnyside Solo piano
1988Secrets Sunnyside Sextet, with Dick Oatts (tenor sax, soprano sax), Barry Danielian (trumpet, flugelhorn), Anthony Cox (bass), Bill Stewart (drums), Arto Tunçboyacıyan (percussion)
1988Trio '87 Odin w/Carl Morten Iversen & Audun Kleive
1990The Wayfarer Sunnyside Sextet, with Dick Oatts (tenor sax, soprano sax), Barry Danielian (trumpet, flugelhorn), Anthony Cox (bass), Bill Stewart (drums), Arto Tunçboyacıyan (percussion, vocals)
2000?Wave Sunnyside Solo piano
2002Mystic Heights Sunnyside Solo piano
2003Quartet LanguagePlayscapew/Thomas Chapin, Calvin Hill & Jeff Williams
2005Full Moon Music Sunnyside Solo piano
2006All or Nothing at All Sunnyside Duo, with Marc Mommaas (sax); in concert
2007Oasis Sunnyside Trio, with David Clark (bass), Georges Schuller (drums)
2011Leapfrog Sunnyside Quintet, with Marc Mommaas (tenor sax), Mike Moreno (guitar), Dean Johnson (bass), Tyshawn Sorey (drums)
2014Sayat-Nova: Songs of My Ancestors Sunnyside One disc solo piano; one disc trio, with David Clark (bass), George Schuller (drums)
2022Fresh Start Sunnyside Trio with Jay Anderson (bass), Dennis Mackrel (drums)

As sideman

With Billy Harper

With Mongo Santamaria

With Night Ark

With Bobby Vince Paunetto

With Rory Stuart

With Datevik Hovanesian

With Julie Lyonn Lieberman

With Roy Ayers

With Cosmology

References

  1. "Armen Donelian Biography" . Retrieved 2016-04-30.
  2. "Bookshelf | Columbia College Today". www.college.columbia.edu. Retrieved 2022-06-15.