Armenians Take Vegas AGAIN!

When I heard that Tata would be holding a concert in Las Vegas I figured it was being put on by some ingenious rich Armenian who had rented out a venue and brought Tata over. For a moment I considered going then I had flashbacks of the last major Armenian event I went to which happens to be the infamous soccer game I attended this summer in Armenia and I realized I'm still so traumatized by the mob scene at that stadium that I'm just not ready yet to be in a place with that many Armenians at one time.

A few days ago a few friends and I went out to Las Vegas for a couple days and while we were there we kept seeing the promotional videos and posters for the Tata concert which had taken place 3 days before we arrived. It dawned on me then that the Paris Hotel was sponsoring this event as the first "Armenian Nights I" event. For those of you that might not know there's a whole "Arabian Nights" series featuring famous Arabic singers and I guess now there will be an "Armenian Nights" series. I wonder who the performer will be for "Armenian Nights II" My guess was Harout Pamboukjian but one of my friends has his money on Nune. Any other guesses?

December pêle-mêle

Since i couldn’t write about each event one by one, here’s my december higgledy-piggledy report of this december’s armenian horizons, without specific transition or logic !

As usual, the month began with the annual and now traditionnal Braderie Chêne at Sèvres. I’ve been a good client for the books of that braderie where I found
1) another Armenian book of Chahan Chahnour, appreciated author of my mother “nahantche arants yerki” (after “Grage gorkis”, and “Sird Srdi” found past years)
2) a special book that had been made for the 1600th anniversary of the aypoupen invention (many specialized articles about armenian alphabet, its creation, the translations, the effects of this invention for armenians) in french & armenian,
3) in French, the recent translation of “Khente” the masterpiece of Hagop Mélik Hagopian, alias Raffi
4) in French also, the “being armenian in Turkey”, miscellany of Hrant Dink’s articles in Agos
5) in Armenian and French, a booklet of Komitas’ folkloric songs scores, in case I or some of mines could play them one day… I like to think that such things are under hand in case of :o)

This was also the occasion to salute the usual faces of that braderie, that I’d met progressively during these last years (I’ve mentioned them last year in my posts about Chene). It’s also there that I met 2 other people in order to set things for my 2 haygagan missions of the month:

Mission n° 1 : animation in armenian during the festive celebration organised for the Armenian church of Chaville’s 50th anniversary. As I’m one of its little school students, I was asked this little contribution few months ago and had to prepare it by learning what would take place that day.
Baron Hraïr Hratchian president of the Armenian cultural and cultual association of Chaville, working at Chene also, was there for that. My part during the feast isn’t worthy these lines, unlike the subject of this hissnameag : before this church, the Armenian kaghout of Chaville (established even before the genocide) was reuniting for church and school in a very very very old hangar that was falling down, when 3 young men and a woman braved the board of old wise people of this kaghout, to build a brand new and real church. Result of a strong and happy will that reached its goal with the strength of its tenacity just 50 years ago on December the 16th of 1957.

Mérou Panossian, one of those 4 young builders, made a very nice speech during the feast, remembering how discouraged they had been in their intentions at the very beginning, by supposed to be wise and experienced members of those times deciders. They finally built the church by their own efforts, and the lesson he took since that event is to always have the same objective critical spirit toward ideas, whatever they may be and whether they come from famous established person or from original and less known ones.

It was moving to see how the few means of that time managed to do such a work. And the recently elected new arkepiskopos of French Armenians, Norvan Zakarian, who was there for the occasion too also spoke very intelligently for honoring the united and beautiful soul Chaville’s hamaïnk (community) has been showing, and for encouraging it on this path of keeping Armenian culture and faith alive.
It was a nice day! The same charming mood was present while a little champagne coupe has been offered between the organisers of this event few days after. I was there too, amongst charming aged people, full of goodwill to do this work. Always nice to see nice people :).

Mission n°2 : Interview for France-Arménie, of Ruben Sahakyan, President of the Chamber of Advocates of Armenia (http://www.pastaban.am/). He has been invited in France by the AFAJA (association française des avocats et juristes arméniens) for the annual Rentry of the Parisian Barreau (name of advocates chamber of Paris). I was asked the job because I didn’t know the man (unlike another FA colleague who also work in AFAJA) and because of my law studies.
It wasn’t very easy since I knew nothing about justice in Armenia, but fortunately I wasn’t left alone for the job and with the help of Rose-Marie Frangulian-LePriol (FA colleague, advocate, and founder of the AFAJA) and Raffi Kalfayan (secretary of the FIDH, an international human rights organisation, see its website English pages here) I managed to understand more clearly what advocacy was in Armenia… Not a glorious vision as you can guess, but revolutionary efforts have really been made since 2005.

Ruben Sahakyan is a criminal lawyer, he’s been practising advocacy in Armenia for 23 years (he was in Bakou in 1988 for defending armenians during Soumgaït events) and he’s totally disillusioned about his country’s reality. So why did he take this role ? Because he’s also a tenacious baykarogh (fighter) as he says himself, in the pure tradition of advocacy I would add. He has been pushed to it by young advocates, willing to a better practise of that job, fundamental basis of a fair situation of justice.

With a relevant vision of what should be fixed in the system, and a convenient organic help (ABA the Armenian Bar of America, USAID, and OSCE that noticeably helped them in the clearing path), advocates’ situation has really improved : a unique organisation for advocates since 2005, transparency in advocates competitive examinations, seminaries, efforts on public legal aid have been the first steps of this important evolution.
Of course it doesn’t solve the main problem in Armenia which is a deeply corrupted system, but Sahakyan is convinced that an evolution of mentalities will slowly make its effects, with the exemplarity emulation. They are presently working on this : create visible excellence in the profession so that people would more and more go toward those standards of legal competence, thus the rest would naturally disappear.
The man was respectable, realist but convinced of its work, firm and quiet in his efforts. It was rather inspiring to meet him. May all this succeed as he want !

The middle of December also saw the question of Turkey’s entry in European Union under limelights. A demonstration was planned in Brussels on 14th, but I couldn’t go this time. I know that Armenians of various European countries were present but I didn’t manage to learn if it was really full or not. As the reports don’t speak about it I guess it wasn’t enough. But more sad is the result that appeared few days after, 2 new chapters of entry negociations have been opened with Turkey http://www.euractiv.com/en/enlargement/turkey-eu-membership-talks-move-forward/article-169296
Still nothing about minorities’ treatment there, on contradiction with basic human rights. This European question of Turkey is slowly rotting, but also despairing. I know it might be a good step for Turkey’s democracy to enter European standards, but how can I admit that such a country would share the same place as normal democratic countries ? It’s impossible to compare my liberty here in France, to what it had be reduced to in Turkey, just because of Armenian roots.

Apart from all that, cold cold December, full of work, birthdays everywhere between friends and family, good meals for the celebrations, and a new year that already looks even more full of work than this month, in an eternally beautiful Paris, Mamma miiiia!
As my wise mother often repeated : tun kordzen bedk e tchvakhnas, payts kordze kezme bedke vakhna ! (you mustn’t be scared by work, it’s YOU who must frighten the work!)
Anyway, before scaring everything around, enjoy new year’s celebrations !
Joyeuses fêtes !

PS : nearly forgot the essential touch in this pêle-mêle : MUSIC ! I really advise you to go and listen Gas's last recordings of his songs http://www.myspace.com/gasblues ... surprise, surprise... ENJOY !

Onnik Dinkjian- Voice of Armenians: Live in Jerusalem CD Review (Part 2)

{The Setup}

The 77 year old Armenian-American crooner Onnik Dinkjian (at the time of the recording) was coaxed into this concert/recording by his son Ara. The message was clear from son to father. Just go out and sing from the soul, and the audience will follow. Onnik was reluctant since no one in Israel was familiar with him, or his music. Knowing all of this, Jerusalem International Oud Festival director Effie Benaya gave Ara the nod and carte blanche to produce the concert for Onnik in front of a sophisticated and well versed musical audience made up of mostly Jewish Israelis. Of course, Onnik would not be alone. Behind him would be a dream team of musicians; including monster percussionist Zohar Fresco, Kanoon player Tamer Pinarbasi, Greek lyra (a kemanche/violin-like instrument) player Sokratis Sinopoulos, and keyboardist Adi Rennert. Reports from Jerusalem on their first- and only- rehearsal had Onnik forgetting his entrance on the first song "Amenoo Daran" as he was so taken by the ensemble lead by his son (and oudist) Ara. Thus, all the pieces were in place, and it was time for Onnik to deliver.

{ The Review}

The opening of "Voice of Armenians: Live in Jerusalem" is breathtaking from the very first bar. As the plectrum strikes the double stringed oud, Sokratis Sinopoulos' fabulous lyra (otherwise known as a kemancha) taksim transports the listener immediately to Anatolia with"Amenoo Daran", a Dikranagerdsi Armenian folk song. By the time Armenian-American vocalist Onnik Dinkjian joins in to open the CD (and the concert), the party is already underway and is merely waiting for its star performer to arrive. It was a huge relief for me to hear that incredibly, at the Tony Bennett-esque age of 77, Onnik still sounded vibrant, relevant, and most importantly entertaining. It would be the biggest question answered right off the bat- whether the guy could still sing? Affirmative would be the answer.

The disc contains twelve tracks which represent the real nuggets from Onnik's repertoire. For those who have followed Dinkjian's career within the Armenian community, all of these songs will be familiar. They are all classics. From the Dikranagerdsi pieces (Amenoo Daran, Hele Hele/Halay), to Armenian folk songs and compositions (Hay Herosneri Yerk, Garod), to one that Onnik penned/arranged himself titled Hoy Nazan. More importantly, they are pieces he personalized to be sung in his signature quasi cabaret/ethnographic/entertaining fashion. Onnik's voice really is unique and very honest. It's refined enough to be taken seriously, but, rough enough to connect the general public in that folk sense.

Onnik's remarkable rapport with his audience is legendary. And, it is on full display on the fifth track of the disc, "Hele Hele/Halay" as he begins the piece while son Ara is strumming through an oud taksim (solo) stating in English that the following song is an Armenian folk song sung in the Dikranagerdsi dialect. The interplay between Ara and Onnik is one that only a father and son can create. And, the opening call to song and dance in the strange-but-beautiful dialect gives way to a tremendous oud solo by son Ara. The piece is performed with such gusto that it retains the high spot on the program. Another high point is the eighth track, "Yardile", which is sung again in the aforementioned dialect. A master performer, Onnik is clearly having fun in his environment with the backing ensemble.

Other pieces that show the crooner in Onnik include "Yerevani Sharmagh Aghchig", "Im Anoosh Davigh", and "Garod", which have more of a French cabaret feel to it backed again by impeccable and sensitive ensemble work. At times, the flavor of Onnik's arrangements veers off into deep Anatolia with kanoon solos by the Turkish born Tamer Pinarbasi who uses all ten of his fingernails to replace the usual single plectrum on each hand's pointer finger. Another genre of music also appears on this disc in the form of a jam called "Mer Nvakoghneroon". It details some of the musicians Onnik has gigged with and where they are from over the years on the East Coast/Midwest/West Coast (USA). The jam is great, although the lyrics do get a little silly. But still, it's a nod to many years of performing weekend gigs with Diasporan Armenian musicians. It's a nice tribute, but an even better jam that is supposed to show off each of the performers on stage with some solo time. It was a tradition in the States, and the interplay continues on this disc in Jerusalem. Of particular interest is the sinuous lyra taksim by Sokratis Sinopoulos. The ensemble work on this disc is first rate and inspiring.

It would be unfair to compare Onnik Dinkjian now, to his prime vocal years decades ago. He has lost his fastball to be sure, but, the finesse pitcher is still out in full force. Like an old knuckleballer who throws one last gem, Onnik Dinkjian does his legacy proud on "Voice of Armenians". Even more importantly, he brings to life the music of his generation and people from the villages of ancient Armenia via the toll roads of New Jersey and the Eastern Seaboard over to Israel. Indeed for many of us who were lucky enough to be entertained by Onnik Dinkjian, he was "The Voice of Armenians" for all we knew. It's an aptly titled CD, from an immensely entertaining performer.

For those who want to pick up this disc, it is available only at a few places. I recommend this link HERE

CD Review! Onnik Dinkjian- Voice of Armenians: Live From Jerusalem (Part 1)

Onnik Dinkjian- Voice of Armenians: Live in Jerusalem

(Krikor Music- KM 5051)

“Everytime I try to get out, they keep pulling me back in!” – Al Pacino as Michael Corleone in Godfather Part 3.

I try and avoid using quotes to preface any music reviews or articles I write. I’ve seen others use it, including myself and it just kind of annoys me. But, sometimes we all have to resort to cheap trickery to make a point. This time around, the subject of my scribbles is a CD I was recently sent in the mail by oud master Ara Dinkjian from New Jersey. For the past few years, Ara has been invited to perform at the Jerusalem International Oud Festival. It is arguably the best oud festival in the world, and Ara is revered in that part of the world as not only an oudist, but a composer. There was a recent twist to the story in 2006 when his father, vocalist Onnik Dinkjian, was asked to headline along with Ara with an international cast of virtuoso musicians at the Festival. Onnik said yes, but, with some reluctance as his music had never been exposed to those in Israel. Ara gently encouraged his father, now in his 70’s, to just sing from the heart and let the chips fall where they may. The result is “Voice of Armenians: Live In Jerusalem” on Ara’s own Krikor Music label.

So, a few confessions from the outset. I first came to know Onnik’s renditions of Armenian folk music through listening to bootlegged cassettes on my Walkman while cutting my crazy Italian neighbors grass in the mid-to-late- 1980’s. This dates me, I know. However, being a teenager and listening to advanced forms of “kef music” from the East Coast Armenian style was thrilling at the time. Other musicians included Detroit clarinetist Hatchig Kazarian, oudist John Berberian, dumbeg enforcer Roger Krikorian, as well as Ara Dinkjian on guitar. The multiple cassettes I requested from Hatchig through his son Michael were treated like rare secrets as he asked me never to make any copies for anyone. As I put the headphones on while I mowed lawns for $6 an hour in the summer, a new world came into focus. These were Armenian songs with a strange big band/rock n’ roll beat that sounded tribal and kind of lounge-like all at once. And, the ringleader of all this was “The Golden Voice of New Jersey” in Onnik Dinkjian. When I finally met him a few years later at an AYF Olympics dance to thank him for years of entertainment through the bootlegged cassettes and his performances at Armenian functions, I was somewhat awestruck at how humble he was. Growing up, these entertainers in the Armenian Diaspora were not only hard working immigrants who had fantastic weekend music gigs entertaining their communities, and preserving ethnographic songs with a contemporary twist, but, they were bona fide rock stars in the eyes of kids who thought they were just as popular as the next pop star. But, just in an adult way.

The next confession is that Onnik’s unique style of interpretation started to get old for me as I devoured all of the albums I could of that style of “kef music”, and drifted away into classical and world music from all cultures. The Onnik CD’s, tapes, and albums were put into boxes and moved along with me from residence to residence never to be touched again. I even stopped going to Armenian “kef” gigs as I figured I had seen and heard pretty much all there was to be heard. But finally, the rumor spread that Onnik had finally hung up the microphone and retired by moving to Florida. I didn’t get a chance to call Ara to ask the detailed history of Onnik and his career so it will not appear in this review. However, I think it goes something like this. Born in France, moved to the USA and settled in New Jersey while raising a family. I don’t know what his day job was, but, he has sung at countless weddings, dances, and concerts mostly up and down the East Coast. He cut quite a few records, which have since been re-released on CD. West Coast Armenians have probably heard of him, but, have never really seen him perform. Those who have seen him perform from the West Coast have mixed reactions as newer and more progressive forms of Armenian music have developed (or regressed) in the last 30 years. Thus, there is a sort of mystery that surrounds Onnik and his brand of performance and music.

The CD has been billed as the capstone to Onnik's 50 year singing career. However, will Onnik and his backing ensemble be able to connect with Jerusalem's renown sophisticated musical ear?

CD Review Forthcoming

Onnik Dinkjian, Vocals
Ara Dinkjian, Oud
Tamer Pinarbasi, Kanun
Sokrates Sinopoulos, Lyra
Adi Rennert, Keyboard
Zohar Fresco, Percussion

A Sunday in LA!

Today was a beautiful Southern California day. It had rained and snowed at night so this morning was crisp and clean. The sun was out, the skys were clear and the mountains were covered with snow. As I left my apartment and saw how beautiful the ocean looked and as my friend and I were driving into Los Angeles I could see the Hollywood sign perched on the hills, the skyline of Downtown looked incredible against the backdrop of the snow capped hills and I was reminded why this place we call home is so great.

Today I attended a screening of a Hrag Yedalian's documentary titled The People's Advocate: The Life & Times of Charles R. Garry". The documentary was about Charles Garry, an Armenian-American attorney who spent his life defending high profile civil rights activists including some of the most prominent members of the Black Panther party. Hrag has truly done an amazing job with this film. He has been screening this film around California and hopefully his documentary will be picked up by a few film festivals so that more and more people will have the opportunity to be exposed to it.

In addition to highlighting Garry's selfless life and passion for his career, the film reminded viewers that not all lawyers choose to represent high profile criminals and become rich and famous. Garry wasn't defending his clients for personal fame or fortune. Garry and his clients were revolutionaries who used their lives to change our society for the better.

The main thing I took away from this film was seeing how an Armenian-American had dedicated his life to a worthy cause other than something related to the Armenian Community. This point resonated with me because growing up my father always instilled in me the notion that we are first and foremost human beings and only second to that are we Armenians. I hear my father's voice in my head repeating that sentence often. It has stayed with me through the years and it was for that reason that I chose the career path that I did and for that reason that I started volunteering for non-Armenian organizations. I never openly discuss that part of my life with my Armenian friends and family because to be honest I felt guilty for not dedicating those hours to Armenian organizations. During the Q & A, after the film, Hrag mentioned that he hoped this documentary would show some Armenians that it is important for us to get involved with other issues not just Armenian ones like the Genocide and I couldn't agree more. I have noticed that our community is paying more attention to things like the Genocide in Darfur and I hope we continue on this path because the only way to get people interested and active in our issues is for us to become interested and active in theirs.

Hrag's film was informative and inspirational and I commend him for all his effort and a job well done. http://www.peoplesadvocatethemovie.com/

DC Sourp Mariam Community Anniversary

I attended the mass at Sourp Mariam today, and later on took part in a fun and interesting few hours of celebrations. Whereas St. Mary's Church itself wasn't built and didn't start holding regular service in the DC area until the 1950s or so, the women's guild has been around since 1932, and so, the 75th anniversary of an organised Washington Armenian community was commemorated today.

Very typical, Armenian style, everybody got together downstairs in the srah around a bunch of round tables. Bigwigs had arrived, including the primate from New York, and the ambassador. There was a lot of talking, lots of speeches (sometimes the talking and speeches were simultaneous), food, and a very nice video about the church's history, prepared by the local ACYOA. Oh, and the kiddies from the Sunday school sang a few songs, which was incredibly cute.

This was all very interesting for me, because I never grew up in an Armenian community per se, and I had heard about these sorts of events, but I've very limited experience in them. The atmosphere was very family-like, and heartwarming at times, such as when older or more active parishioners were handed awards of recognition.

And then came the cleaning up, which was probably the funniest part of all, because there was all this leftover food which was being accumulated in containers, each of the clean-up crew getting a fair share of hummos, cheese, kebab... Just as if you've gone to your aunty's house for dinner, and she's packing up some stuff for the people at home.

Some people were straggling behind, doing the usual chene, and as I went back and forth helping to clear one table, I swear, I took maybe three trips, but throughout the entire time, this one old Armenian lady was giving directions to another old Armenian lady to her house. So, I took some plates, and the conversation was like, "Adgets hedo arachin khachmerougn e", "Ad panin chi hasadz, che...?", and then I come back for the glasses, and they're like, "Hon cul-de-sac e", "Che, che, cul-de-sac chi ga, arachin khachmerougn e...", and so on...

As they said at the event, well done and good going for the first seventy-five years.

Summer is Coming, Watermelons are crying of joy...

I know 99% of you are far away from Argentina, South America.

But listen, there is a new and original celebration taking place next December 9th in Buenos Aires: The Tzemerug Rock Festival.

We are getting together all the Armenian Rock Bands to do a festival during the day, eating watermelon, swimming and enjoying of the best Rock Bands of Buenos Aires.

Take a look at the flyer,


Bachigner

HovhanneSSiTo .*.

PS: If any Armenian or non Armenian are visiting this lands, don't hesitate on coming to this sunny party.

Taline!

Well, it's been more than a month for me now, here in the States, and although I've spent all this time in DC doing various things within the local Armenian community - check out the church here, take part in the event there - I felt "inspired" today to make my inaugural entry on this blog about a Taline concert that was held today.

Now, for those of you who are older than seven or do not have individuals in your immediate vicinity who are seven or younger, Taline is an Armenian children's singer. She has a bunch of friends who dance along, namely, a rabbit (Nabig), a cat (Piso) and a clown (Dzaghradzou), and Santa Claus made an appearance at today's show as well. Taline sings the cutest kiddie songs in Armenian, and also in English, some traditional nursery rhymes and the like, and some actually very nicely translated into Armenian, which must be quite a feat when it comes to, say, the ABC song, because our language has thirteen more letters...!


It was quite a crowd, and the kids were all over the place, parents and cameras in tow. The whole scene was hilarious actually, and everybody had a super time.

Now, the reason I was so inspired by the show today is that I never grew up in an Armenian community, like a "Diaspora place", with a church, school, agoump and so on, and then I've lived in Armenia, where the feeling often is that the Diaspora is temporary, that communities die out sooner or later. And this is indeed true, as we do have mere vestiges of communities today in, say, the Far East, or India.

On the other hand, one may argue that, as an Armenian community dies out somewhere, another one takes hold elsewhere. This makes for different kinds of Armenians of course, each community being influenced by the society in which it finds itself, trying in its own way to keep the identity alive.

In my weeks here, I've noticed quite a vibrant community in DC, where many people speak Armenian and everything. I've noticed, to my surprise, individuals who have never set foot in the Homeland, who don't really feel like moving there, or can't really "work for the Homeland", but who, simply, consider themselves to be Armenian. In my head, seeing things from a Hayastan perspective, this would have been, "less justified", to put it roughly.

I mean, all the Diasporans I've met in Armenia have been the kind for whom coming to Armenia is a big deal. They've all been wowed by the Hayrenik, and just about all of them had this sentiment of wanting to be a part of it, really a part of it, help build it and re-build it and make it shine and so on... And in Armenia, that's the impression you get that, in all the far-flung communities, day in and day out, all the Armenians are thinking is, "How can we help the Homeland today ?".

But that's not true, I find now. So, I've experienced this shift, where I've discovered that some people can be Armenian outside of Armenia and very wholly identify themselves as such. And that's it. There's nothing underneath it or beyond it. They're just regular Hovhanneses, leading your average life, and they happen to be Armenian and they are Armenian. I honestly hadn't expected it. I mean, I sort of knew this, consciously, but hadn't quite felt it, didn't think it would be quite like this...

Well, perhaps this is a bit over-philosophising on my part, but, anyway, the point is, today's concert was a showcase of very regular Armenian life outside of Armenia, and it was great fun. Merci, Taline!