Magic GAS
Funny pun, but to summarize, this is what can be said about the bluesman Gaspard Ossikian live, named “Gas blues band” on the scene. Tested and approved, the fast journey to Lyon for seeing him live was 200% worthy !
Born in Erevan, son of the 1947’s Podeba and Rossia ships Armenian-french repatriates, back in France aged 4, and obviously born for singing and playing the blues: like many Armenians, the guy has a heavy past behind him that he clearly identified as the roots of his own why I sing the blues (a song of BB King).
While speaking about BB King, can be useful to mention that Ossikian has made the first part of the legend’s concert in 1988 at Cahors (in France), excusez du peu … the “49 blues band”, it’s the band of Gas and his old friend Fred Brousse. The band doesn’t exist anymore but the 2 friends are still deeply linked with the US Chicago blues via the Maurice John Vaughn Chicago blues ambassadors they both play in each time they perform in France.
So on the paper, Gaspard could reasonably be considered as an authentic bluesman, but the best proof is to see him on scene. A beautiful grave and rocky voice, a play of guitar extremely effective in all sobriety (the guitar truly sings !) and the rest of the band ensuring perfectly too (Luc Blackstone playing bass, Rachid Guissous on keyboard, Yannik Unari on drums).
As himself, his blues is not depressed at all, but more strongly living, and even dancing ! One of his composition is directly about his Armenian roots : a song called Magic Mountain (needless to say which kakat he’s singing about), veiling a deep mystery on the magic mountain of his childhood in Erevan. When he performed it last Friday night, he sung some parts in Armenian, so I guess that the mystery was even deeper for the other listeners as I was the only other hay of the place !
Never complaining about anything, the man rather prefer to enjoy life than be depressed, and that’s his conception of the blues “gerek, barek, khmetsek, vayelek ! ays ashkharin metch amen pan soud e!” this funny hay song IS blues for him.
He never managed to return to Armenia though his strong will of mixing his blues experience with the excellent musicians he heard from there. An “Armenian blues band” would be his dream. God bless your way Gas !
Born in Erevan, son of the 1947’s Podeba and Rossia ships Armenian-french repatriates, back in France aged 4, and obviously born for singing and playing the blues: like many Armenians, the guy has a heavy past behind him that he clearly identified as the roots of his own why I sing the blues (a song of BB King).
While speaking about BB King, can be useful to mention that Ossikian has made the first part of the legend’s concert in 1988 at Cahors (in France), excusez du peu … the “49 blues band”, it’s the band of Gas and his old friend Fred Brousse. The band doesn’t exist anymore but the 2 friends are still deeply linked with the US Chicago blues via the Maurice John Vaughn Chicago blues ambassadors they both play in each time they perform in France.
So on the paper, Gaspard could reasonably be considered as an authentic bluesman, but the best proof is to see him on scene. A beautiful grave and rocky voice, a play of guitar extremely effective in all sobriety (the guitar truly sings !) and the rest of the band ensuring perfectly too (Luc Blackstone playing bass, Rachid Guissous on keyboard, Yannik Unari on drums).
As himself, his blues is not depressed at all, but more strongly living, and even dancing ! One of his composition is directly about his Armenian roots : a song called Magic Mountain (needless to say which kakat he’s singing about), veiling a deep mystery on the magic mountain of his childhood in Erevan. When he performed it last Friday night, he sung some parts in Armenian, so I guess that the mystery was even deeper for the other listeners as I was the only other hay of the place !
Never complaining about anything, the man rather prefer to enjoy life than be depressed, and that’s his conception of the blues “gerek, barek, khmetsek, vayelek ! ays ashkharin metch amen pan soud e!” this funny hay song IS blues for him.
He never managed to return to Armenia though his strong will of mixing his blues experience with the excellent musicians he heard from there. An “Armenian blues band” would be his dream. God bless your way Gas !
posted by Jilda at 4:33 PM
4 Comments:
Dear Jilda, you are a diasporan-armenian from France, that's why I am writing to you.
A couple of days ago we started an all-armenian fax-campaign in Europe in order to protest the crimes the Deutsche Bank has committed during the Armenian Genocide. I am sure you are familiar with the Deutsche Bank issue. Unfortunately we haven't been able to mobilize enough people, especially the french-armenians seem to be sleeping.
Can you try to help us mobilize them? It would also be very nice of you to write an article about this campaign on this blog! I and everybody else supporting this would be very thankful!
The website of the fax-campaign is: www.deutschebankprotest.eu
Thank you in advance
Sincerely
Leo
European Armenian Federation German Chapter
Hello Leo,
I've heard of this already (in fact just this week) via an armenian association which purpose is to be careful on each news, whatever the media, linked with armenian issues.
Here's the link where the info is spread :
http://www.collectifvan.org/article.php?r=4&id=5839
With the euro-armenian federation, there's a campaign, calling for armenian to write to Deutsche Bank about this case.
http://www.eafjd.org/menu.php3?lang=fr
Like the Axa case, the info about this campaign would probably soon be more widely spread in France. Given that the info seem to have been pointed just this week, looks like it's a matter of patience...
I understand it might be slow for you, but well, as we say here "mieux tard que jamais" (better late than never).
hatchoghutiun
jilda jan, i am from the european armenian federation and i have taken part in the development of the website, tsaved tanem!!!!
all i am asking you is to write about this issue in the blog. write a couple of lines about this campaign and point to the website www.deutschebankprotest.eu
thank you very much
PS: by the way did u send a fax yourself?
leo
eaf germany
Understood ! I read too quickly... at least i didn't write silly things !
Don't take it for you Leo, but right now it's not a case i know personnaly about and feel able to share spontaneously, and i can't do "journalism" here about it now.
In any case, your comments are also easily visible on this blog.
On the other hand, i was more willing to talk about this to the medias i have contacts with, here in France. Can be useful if they don't already work on it (i doubt of it, but no harm by just checking).
Ecco, I hope you'll understand
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