“Miqayel Voskanyan and friends” ethnic jazz band has recently returned from “Made in New York Jazz» Festival
The festival organizers had informed them about the festival. On hearing the play of the band on the internet, the founder of the contest, Michael Brovkin, liked the Armenian ethnic music, introduced the terms of the contest, and then suggested them to participate, too. The Armenian band was first to register success in online voting.
So, by the results of online voting that lasted a year, “Miqayel Voskanyan and friends” ethnic jazz group, playing the work composed by Miqayel Voskanyan, “Take six”, took the second place among 250 countries and was awarded the right to participate in the international festival.
“Aravot” talked to the founder of “Miqayel Voskanyan and friends” ethnic jazz band Miqayel Voskanyan about the path before reaching America, the days spent in New York festival, and the impressions.
In the city of skyscrapers, the festival days, according to Miqayel Voskanyan, were wonderful. But prior to “getting” to the festival, the musician was inspired by the online voting results. He says that they are not only due to the fact that they were very popular on the Internet, but also a lot of strangers were attracted by the music, they also volunteered to disseminate the performance of the Armenian band. The opinions about their performed play were mostly positive, and the criticisms were only an expression of goodwill. “They were mostly professional and related to the song structures and instrumental play,” he says and adds, “It was memorable that the interest in the instrument and ethnic music among foreign voters was great.
The festival-related costs should be covered by the country introducing the music band. “Miqayel Voskanyan and friends” had turn to the state support and had received it, and “Children of Armenia Fund” (COAF) funded the lodging costs, food, and transportation. In this respect, Miqayel Voskanyan said, “Any musical instrument, if it is worthy of attention locally, and measures be taken to properly introduce it outside, it may achieve a great recognition.” Now, taking into account their assistance, he thinks that his wish is coming true. “For which I am very grateful. I think that there is a progress in terms of evaluating the music.
I hope that the national values will be more appraised in the future, and investments will be made to develop it.”
The “Made in New York Jazz” Festival launched on May 3, in the New York BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center Concert Hall. When talking about it, Miqayel Voskanyan recalls with joy that it was a great honor for their group to meet with the living legends of the world jazz, Randy Brecker, Joe Lovano, Lenny White, and play on the same stage. He says that both the festival participants and audience were interested in the Armenian musical instrument. “They were saying that it is a very interesting, a very good instrument, they were interested in tar as a national instrument. I was introducing the Armenian instrument to them,” he says. According to Miqayel Voskanyan, our country’s participation in similar festivals should be continuous. “Because thanks to such festivals, the country shows its face, it makes easier to introduce ourselves.”
Participating in such festival was a great achievement for the Armenian band. “Both emotionally and professionally, the festival had a very big impact. Just the fact that your group and you, as a musician, are playing in one of New York stages at the same time with world-famous jazz performers, already speaks of itself and causes a sense of great responsibility. Only contacts with such musicians, and rehearsals was the biggest achievement that we could have with a group that exists for two years,” says Miqayel Voskannyan, and adds that the festival was followed by a series of other festivals and invitations; there were also practical suggestions, now they are getting ready to participate in them.
Being in New York, the band could not help but meet with the Armenian community, and have a concert there. According to Miqayel Voskanyan, they were warmly welcomed. “Some of them even missed.”
In another conversation with us, still last year, the musician had wished love to the Armenian ethnic instruments awakens in the Armenian young people. Now a year to year progress is observed. “I gradually notice that love to the musical instrument arises, hopefully, in the coming years, love will be more apparent.
In any case, when studying any art, we must go to the roots and finding the original essence there, try to compare it with today’s modern life,” says Miqayel Voskanyan.
HRIPSIME HOVHANNISYAN
