THE INDEPENDENT REVIEWS LUYS i LUSO, TIGRAN’S NEW RECORD

From the INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY 13 Sept 2015-09-15

TIGRAN HAMASYAN LUYS i LUSO

By Phil Johnson

Pianist- prodigy Hamasyan grew up in California, winning the famous Thelonious Monk prize and releasing his debut album while still a teenager. Now he’s returned to his birthplace of Armenia, from where he has made this extraordinarily beautiful recording of sacred music.

Arranged by Hamasyan, the pieces date back from the 5^th to the 20^th centuries and are sung by a 23-strong choir in an earthily passionate liturgical style. The role of the piano is vital: sometimes introducing a theme, sometimes improvising around it, Hamasyan uses the characteristic, Eastern-hued Armenian modes to summon up an ancient world. It’s very different to Jan Garbarek and the Hilliard Ensemble’s million-selling Officium, but if you like that, you’ll love this.