Verve 276 068 6 | Tigran Hamasyan (p, v). Rec. September 2010

The major part of this majestic solo piano album highlights the New York- based Tigran’s rediscovery of the ancient folk music and poetry from his Armenian origins that’s been a feature of his playing since his debut as leader in 2006.

That was the year he also won the prestigious Thelonious Monk Piano Competition Award. Tigran has revealed previously all the passion and fluidity of his jazz chops à la Chick Corea, notably on the 2007 New Era trio album alongside the vigorous rhythm section of the Moutin Brothers from France, and also on NYC drummer Ari Hoenig’s recent Lines of Oppression. But the new release A Fable has much less of a traditional jazz leaning, rhythmically it’s coming out of folk dance and classical music rather than swing, even when Tigran touches on the jazz standard repertoire with a minimally elegant version of ‘Someday My Prince will Come’.

All the rest are originals inspired by Armenian medieval hymns, poetry and folk song and the elegiac, prayerlike minor eastern themes are sometimes reminiscent of the double bassist Avishai Cohen’s as is Tigran’s singing sideline involving wordless scatting and even some whistling. But Tigran’s exquisite touch, concentrated poise and imaginative, romantic shaping of themes reveal someone who is entirely capable of capturing the magic of a solo concert hall piano performance. The more you listen, the more this recording casts its spell.

Selwyn Harris