Vahagn Hayrapetyan & his HipNoyZ-Trio

VAHAGN HAYRAPETYAN Piano, Vocals
ARTYOM MANUKYAN Cello
ARMAN MNATSAKANYAN Drums
HARUTYUN CHKOLYAN Duduk
ROSE EISEN Photo- und Videoart

Improvised music has been popular since the 1920s in the Caucasian country of Armenia. This tradition was not interrupted during the Soviet era and is more alive than ever. Armenian jazz is famous for its melodicism, combined with Oriental rhythms.

One established name in Armenian jazz is Vahagn Hayrapetyan. The accomplished jazz pianist, a former student of the hard boppers Barry Harris and Frank Hewitt, has performed at numerous great jazz festivals, including in New Orleans and Montreal. In celebration of 30 years of diplomatic relationships between Germany and Armenia, he presents his unique style on September 10 at the Kulturbrauerei’s Kesselhaus, performing with his HipNoyZ-Trio. The special guest is Harutyun Chkolyan: his folk instruments, such as duduk and surna, give the concert its uniquely Armenian flavour. The photo artist Rose Eisen will contribute video collages as a visual element.

Statement on the music contribution:

“30 years ago, Armenia and the Federal Republic of Germany established diplomatic relations with each other. The then Foreign Ministers Hans-Dietrich Genscher and Raffi Hovhannisyan signed the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1992. In 2022, the Armenian Embassy in Berlin looks back on 30 eventful years, which have been very positive overall and in which the relationship between the two countries has been characterised by great mutual respect.”

– Embassy of the Republic of Armenia

This event is presented in cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Germany at the Kulturbrauerei’s Kesselhaus.