ARMENIAN MUSIC HONORS ITS STARS.Byline: Sandra Barrera Staff Writer It used to be that Armenian artists Art
Held annually, the event honors artists from throughout the Armenian music world who are helping to raise the bar of professionalism in this niche industry. Artists like '50s jazz innovator Adiss Harmandian, this year's Lifetime Achievement recipient. ``Back when he was singing in the Middle East, Armenian music was very traditional,'' says Peter Bahlawanian, a 34-year-old independent filmmaker who is also the founder of the Armenian Music Awards. ``What he did was bring traditional melodies into the modern world with his jazz arrangements, and it breathed new life in Armenian music. All of a sudden, people started listening again.'' Armenian music has been re-imagined through a number of American genres, including hip-hop, gospel and rock. Take the singer known only as Andy (Madadian), who joins Thursday's list of performers. ``He's not an Armenian artist, he's an international artist,'' Bahlawanian says. Andy comes from Iran. He blends Persian music with Western dance beats and sings in six different languages - including Spanish, English and Hindu. The music is widely pirated because his records are illegal. How come? ``The government in Iran is religious and they think that my kind of pop music corrupts the mind,'' Andy says from his home in the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. . ``To them, it's seductive and vulgar. To us, it's just rock 'n' roll rock 'n' roll: see rock music. .'' That ``rock 'n' roll'' has taken Andy around the world, as well as led him to the big screen. In 2003, Andy played a wedding singer in the film ``House of Sand and Fog,'' starring Jennifer Connelly and Ben Kingsley. Next month he takes on a larger part with a supporting role supporting role n → second rôle m supporting role n → ruolo non protagonista in ``The Keeper: The Legend of Omar Khayyam Omar Khayyam (ō`mär kīäm`), fl. 11th cent., Persian poet and mathematician, b. Nishapur. He was called Khayyam [tentmaker] probably because of his father's occupation. ,'' a film about the 11th-century Persian poet and mathematician. But Andy has no plans to give up the music he takes part in celebrating with a host of other performers, presenters and nominees in 20 categories. Here are just a few of the awards that are up for grabs: Best pop retro album: Tpahznt, ``Yerevan-Moscow;'' Arthur Ispirian, ``Asum en Te''; Janette, ``Norits Kez Hed''; Hooshere, ``Provenance''; Mher Sahakyan, ``Khoske Massisi.'' Best newcomer: Artin Karapet, ``Tears of Passion''; Zulal, ``An Armenian a Cappella a cap·pel·la adv. Music Without instrumental accompaniment. [Italian : a, in the manner of + cappella, chapel, choir.] Adj. 1. Folk Trio''; BBR BBR Bureau of Business Research BBR Broadbandreports.com (website) BBR Bending Beam Rheometer BBR Burnt Beyond Repair BBR Black Body Radiation (quantum physics) BBR Baby Back Ribs BBR Back Bone Ring , ``Bambir''; Hooshere, ``Provenance''; Mihran, ``It's My Time.'' Best rap and hip-hop album: Mihran, ``It's My Time''; Twins, ``2Wins''; Tin Tin
Tin Tin was a pop/rock band formed in the UK in 1966 by expatriate Australian musicians. , ``One Night.'' Sandra Barrera, (818) 713-3728 sandra.barrera(at)dailynews.com SEVENTH ANNUAL ARMENIAN MUSIC AWARDS Where: Hollywood Palladium, 6215 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood. When: 8 p.m. Thursday. Tickets: $50 to $150. Call (818) 240-4888 or www.thearmenianmusicawards.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: The singer known as Andy, who blends Eastern music and Western beats, will perform at the Armenian Music Awards, Thursday in Hollywood. |
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