# Garo Tavitjan

Garo Tavitjan (Garo Tavitjan, Jr., Macedonian: Гарo Тавитјан) is a Macedonian award-winning drummer, composer, arranger, pianist and producer of Armenian descent (Armenian father and Serbian mother). He has performed over 500 large concert performances in Europe, England, Asia, the United States, Armenia, and the Balkans.
Garo Tavitjan has performed and collaborated with Mike Stern, Eric Marienthal, Oz Noy, Morris Pleasure, Fernando Saunders, Larry Monroe, The Jazz Ambassadors, Roseanna Vitro, Dean Brown, Lee Roy, Clivia Tanisi, Rhani Krija, Andrea Palazzo, James East, Dave Weckl etc.

## Biography

Garo Tavitjan was born in 1982 in Skopje, in the family of drummer Garabet Tavitjan. His brother Diran Tavitjan is a pianist and they perform in "The Tavitjan Brothers" duet.
Garo started elementary music school at the age of 5, afterwards, he studied in the state music high school (Ilija Nikolovski Luj - MBUC). His first concert performance was at the age of 12 during his father's concert. In 1996 he joined the Jazz/Rock group Garo & Paramecium (where Diran Tavitjan was a keyboardist and composer) where he started as a guest second soloist drummer besides his father Garabet Tavitjan. After 7 years Garo performed with the whole band as the main drummer on many occasions and tours. In 2002 Garo Tavitjan and Diran Tavitjan started a trio including Aleksandar Ikonomov on Bass. The trio recorded a promo album called DSG Trio - One Mike Session published by Paramecium Production. In 2003 Garo Tavitjan and Diran Tavitjan started the Tavitjan Brothers trio including Dragan Trajkovski on Acoustic Bass. This trio released a Live album called Tavitjan Brothers which was a part of the SONY UK Jazz competition. The tracks from the album of Tavitjan Brothers were released on the Sony Jazz Compilation release of the same competition. The album has received a 5-star review in the Austrian Concerto magazine.
Tavitjan Brothers has started with touring extensively in the Balkans, Europe, Switzerland, Norway, England, USA, and Armenia including soldout concerts at Carnegie Hall, Blue Note (NYC), Nublu, Drummers Collective (NYC), London Jazz Festivals, Switzerland Jazz Festivals, Poland Jazz festivals, Spain Beer Fest, Italy Jazz festival, France Jazz and many other European Jazz festivals. Tavitjan brothers have performed German tours at festivals in Koln, Dusseldorf, Essen, Viersen Dortmund, etc. They performed at Sava Centar in Belgrade, Cankarjev Dom in Ljubljana, philharmonic hall in Ljubljana, philharmonic hall in Sofia (Bulgaria), Bansko Jazz Festival, EXIT Festival in Novi Sad, SKC in Belgrade, Atejle 212 in Belgrade, philharmonic hall in Nish, city square in Tirana (Albania), Oda Theatre in Pristina, Opatija Liburnia Ex-Tempore workshops, Opatija Villa Angelina concert, Pula Jazz Festival, Saxo club in Zagreb, Momiano Rock Festival and many other Balkan jazz festivals.
Tavitjan Brothers & Garabet performed at Skopje City Stadium in front of 30.000 audiences, in 2012 on Independence Day in Skopje they invited Balkan stars to sing with them in a concert in front of 70.000 attendances.
In 2013 and 2015, the Tavitjan Brothers were invited by the Armenian Mezzo Production to play five concerts at the 75th Anniversary of Jazz Music, Jazz Festival, International Jazz Day at Cascades, and the Mezzo Classic House.
Together with his brother Diran Tavitjan and his father Garabet Tavitjan have produced and arranged a double album called ``Macedonian Heart Beats in 7/8`` where the main focus was on arranging traditional Macedonian songs featuring Balkan stars/singers. The singer guests on the project were Zeljko Bebek, Zeljko Joksimovic, Sergej Cetkovic, Nina Badric, Josipa Lisac, Antonija Sola, Tereza Kesovija, Masimo Savic, Dado Topic, Aki Rahimovski, Goran Karan, Goran Bregovic, Boris Novkovic, Hari Varesanovic, Aleksandra Radovic, Kaliopi, Karolina, Esma Redzepova, Lozano, Djafer and Risto Samardziev. The project was published by Paramecium Production, City Records, and Croatia Records.
Garo and Diran Tavitjans have performed and recorded with the guitarist and leader of the Balkan band Divlje Jagode called Zele Lipovaca. Tavitjan Brothers and Zele have published a traditional song named Makedonsko Devojce for legendary Croatia Records.
Tavitjan Brothers have managed to organise and perform the first sold out jazz fusion concert in Macedonia as a Tavitjan Brothers at the Universal Hall. The concert was awarded as a concert of the year at the Golden Bug Awards in Skopje.
Also, Tavitjan Brothers had a concert in Ohrid at the Antique Theatre, Heraclea Arena in Bitola, Cultural Centar in Kumanovo, Cultural Centar in Tetovo, Cultural Centar in Bitola, Jazz festival in Gostivar, a Music festival in Struga and Nights of Poetry Festival, Jazz Festival in Kumanovo, Jazz Festival in Prilep, Jazz Festival in Tetovo, Strumica Open Square Fest, etc.
Garo Tavitjan with Diran as a side man at Garo & Paramecium Band went on a Macedonian tour organised by a National Telephone operator called Telekom in 20 cities across Macedonia with the most prominent singers and bands in 2001.
Garo Tavitjan has become a worldwide endorser of the largest instruments manufacturers such as: Zildjian, Sonor, Vic Firth, Evans, Cympad, RTom and Thomman Musik.

## Discography
### Solo albums

* Garo Tavitjan - Urban Groove
* Garo Tavitjan - Personal View
* Garo Tavitjan - Macedonian Rhythms & Improvisation

### Albums with his group Tavitjan Brothers

* Tavitjan Brothers - One Mike Session
* Tavitjan Brothers - Tavitjan Brothers (Standards)
* Tavitjan Brothers - Play Classics

### Albums with Garabet & Tavitjan Brothers

* Macedonian Heart Beats in 7/8
* Macedonian Heart Beats in 7/8 (part II)
* Macedonian Heart Beats in 7/8 - Skopsko Brewery edition
* Macedonian Heart Beats in 7/8 (part II) - Skopsko Brewery edition

### Albums with Garo & Paramecium

* Garo & Paramecium - Best of
* Garo & Paramecium - A Bre Makedonce
* Garo & Paramecium - A Bre Makedonce - Tea Edition

## Awards

Garo Tavitjan has received awards at the most prominent award ceremony in Macedonia called Golden Bug (Zlatna Bubamara):
1. Garo Tavitjan
* Best Jazz album of the year - 2006
2. Tavitjan Brothers
* Concert of the year - 2008
* Producers of the Year - 2009
* International success - 2015
* Best Jazz Collaborations - 2022

### MARS

Macedonian Awards of Radio Stations Garo & Tavitjan Brothers Music Ambassadors Award - 2012

### The golden mask of success Awards

Ambassadors of Macedonian music

### Mother Teresa Macedonian Association - 2017

Award for contribution by Tavitjan Brothers