Karen Asatrian (Armenian: Կարեն Ասատրյան; born June 23, 1972) is Armenian jazz pianist and composer. His music is a creative synthesis of contemporary jazz and Armenian folk music. His arrangements are a jazzy exploration of the world of oriental melodies and western harmonies. The recent album “Noor” with Karen Asatrian & Armenian Spirit band is an expression of Armenian traditional songs rearranged with a contemporary jazz style.

Early life 
Karen Asatrian received his first education in classical Violin and Piano at the Tchaikovsky Music School in Yerevan. He then continued his studies of both instruments as well as in composition at the Komitas State Conservatory of Yerevan. In 1999, he moved to Carinthia, Austria, where he finalized his Jazz-Piano studies under the direction of Dr. Prof. Harry Neuwirth, with distinction. In 2001, Karen successfully graduated earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Instrumental (Vocal) Pedagogy Studies receiving the state teaching certification for jazzpiano.

Career 
Significant highlights throughout the musical career of Karen Asatrian have been the initiation of the "Brahms Project" (Jazz-Trio with Chamber Orchestra) and the presentation of his original compositions with the Norbert Artner Chamber Choir. His success was marked through collaborations with The Bruckner Symphony Orchestra, Samul-Nori (Korean percussion Ensembles), Dee Dee Bridgewater, George Garzone, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, a.m.m.. Performances within the “Three Nights of Jazz”- Festivals in Saalfelden (Austria), Jazz Festivals Wiesn in Vienna, Sziget Festivals in Budapest. Rearrangement and performance of J. Brahms compositions; uctions, live pnumerous studio proderformances, Radio- and TV-appearances with several Jazz formations in Austria, Korea, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Armenia, to name a few of his international and multifaceted activities. In 2007, Asatrian received the Armenian Music Award in the category of Best Jazz Album for his CD "Pathway". Asatrian demonstrates his attachment to his roots and his passion for the Armenian musical tradition through his AvantgardeFolk-Jazz Group "Karen Asatrian & Armenian Spirit" that he founded in 2013.

In the spirit of western musical tradition, built on early Christian liturgy, Karen Asatrian composed the "Prayer Wheel" - a mass for Choir, Vocalist and Jazz-Ensemble. The brilliant and much-noticed premiere of the 80-minute-composition at the Concert Hall of Carinthia in January 2015 was followed by further performances throughout Austria. This success was marked by the performance of Prayer Wheel within the Salzburg Festival 2016 in cooperation with the Philharmonia Choir Vienna. The latter has been recorded and released in 2017 as a CD by Skylark Production and is being distributed by Universal Music Austria. In addition to his artistic activities and performances, Karen Asatrian is a respected Jazz Piano-Professor at the Carinthian State Conservatory  as well as at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna.

Discography

Albums

As leader

As sidemen 

 Primus Sitter, Premius Sitter Five (1998, New York)
 Gabriel Lipuš, A more, 1999
 Gabriel Lipuš, Malo čezz, 2000
 Gabriel Lipuš, Čisto čezz, 2000
 Big Band Lienz, Live 2001
 Couch Ensemble, Winnetou, 2003
 Bernie Mallinger, Mallinger Open Nut, 2004
 Bernie Mallinger, Mallinger Open Nut, 2004
 Couch Ensemble, Hyper Phlegmathism, 2016

References