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Vardan Ovsepian

Vardan Ovsepian is an Armenia-born pianist/composer and a Fresh Sound New Talent recording artist. Born in 1975, Vardan started playing piano at the age of five. After completing his basic piano training, he went on to study at the Melikyan Music College, majoring in Music Theory, and in 1992, entered the Yerevan State Conservatory majoring in Classical Composition. Inspired by the music of Chopin, Liszt, Bach and solo piano works of Keith Jarrett, Vardan strived to compose and perform solo piano music. In 1994, he was presented an opportunity to focus on his piano work when he was accepted to the Estonian Music Academy to study Contemporary Composition.

In 1995, following his strong interest and passion for jazz and improvised music Vardan moved to Finland, to attend the Helsinki Jazz Conservatory. There, he met and studied with Frank Carlberg, the First Prize winner of the Hennessey Jazz Search, who opened a new world of jazz for him and brought him one step closer to achieving his dream of coming to the United States. A couple of years later, this dream was fulfilled - Vardan was awarded a scholarship to study piano performance at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Since graduating from Berklee in May 2000, Vardan has been teaching at The Musical Suite in Newburyport, MA, and performing solo as well as in groups with artist like Frank Carlberg, Hal Crook, George Garzone, Mick Goodrick, Tony Malaby, Tim Miller, Bob Weiner, and others. Over the last few years, Vardan has won great popularity in Maine where he has taught master classes at the Maine Jazz Camp.

Vardan has released three CDs with a Barcelona-based label Fresh Sound New Talent. In September 2001, the label launched the artist with a solo piano CD Abandoned Wheel, which included all original compositions inspired by music of Philip Glass and Brad Mehldau (especially 'Elegiac Cycle'). A year later, Vardan was invited to bring his quartet for a recording of his second CD, Sketch Book, with a special guest Mick Goodrick. Artists featured on the second CD included Monica Yngvesson (voice), Joshua Davis (bass) and Take Toriyama (drums). And in Septmeber 2004, Fresh Sound is going to release Vardan's third CD "Akunc" ("Source") with his quartet and a cellist Agnieszka Dziubak.

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164
Album Review

Joshua Davis: Squashua

Read "Squashua" reviewed by Mark F. Turner


Now this is a different twist: performing the music of Sting, Brahms, Beethoven, and Tchaikovsky with jazz interpretations. Jazz artists have at many times translated classical and pop music into their repertoire, and bassist Joshua Davis takes an interesting approach with his release Squashua. Not only is Davis an accomplished musician who has performed with names like Clark Terry and Gene Bertoncini, he also holds the position of Director of Jazz/Commercial Studies at Towson University near Baltimore, Maryland. Joined by ...

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157

Recording

Jazz Flutist Ilona Kudina Releases "Nothing But Illusion" with drummer Billy Hart, trumpeter Greg Hopkins, pianist Vardan Ovsepian and bassist Akili Jamal Haynes

Jazz Flutist Ilona Kudina Releases "Nothing But Illusion" with drummer Billy Hart, trumpeter Greg Hopkins, pianist Vardan Ovsepian and bassist Akili Jamal Haynes

Source: Sue Auclair Promotions

The Ilona Kudina Jazz Quintet Set to Perform at Scullers Jazz Club Tuesday, April 6, 2011, 8 PM Boston, MA—Ilona Kudina, who hails from the tiny Republic of Latvia and who has been living in Boston since 2001, is a fine flutist Informed by rigorous childhood classical training in Europe but equally comfortable in jazz genres. Her impeccable classical performances have been recorded on several CDs and she has been heard in many classical and jazz concerts throughout the Greater ...

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Interview

Jazz en Dominicana Interviews Vardan Ovsepian

Jazz en Dominicana Interviews Vardan Ovsepian

Source: Jazz en Dominicana by Fernando Rodriguez

Vardan Ovsepian is an Armenia-born pianist/composer who most recently appeared as part of the Peter Erskine New Trio in the World Jazz Circuit Latina America 2010-2011 season. His education includes the Yerevan State Conservatory, the Estonian Music Academy, the Helsinki Jazz Conservatory, and Berklee College of Music. A recording artist who has released 4 CDs with the Barcelona-based “Fresh Sound New Talent" label, plus an independent release of Vardan Ovsepian Chamber Ensemble (VOCE), he performs with musicians like Peter Erskine, ...

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Performance / Tour

Vardan Ovsepian Returns to the Regattabar with a Special Guest George Garzone

Vardan Ovsepian Returns to the Regattabar with a Special Guest George Garzone

Source: All About Jazz


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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Liminal Silence

Earshift Music
2023

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In2uition

Dash Hoffman Records
2022

buy

Squashua

Self Produced
2005

buy

Small Hotel

From: In2uition
By Vardan Ovsepian

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