Mockroot

Editors’ Notes The Armenian-born American pianist and composer Tigran Hamasyan—winner of the 2006 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition—writes and plays music that dazzles the listener with its high-octane virtuosity. On Mockroot, Hamasyan, electric bassist Sam Minaie, and drummer Arthur Huatek whiplash through material that features odd-meter rhythms and sudden shifts. The music is often marked by traditional Armenian elements, as well as dramatic flashes of prog rock and fusion. Quieter cuts, such as “The Roads That Bring Me Closer to You” and “The Apple Orchard in Saghmosavanq,” serve as a nice contrast to the blazing speed and fury.