Arto Tunçboyacıyan

Early life

Arto Tunçboyacıyan was born in Istanbul, the son of a poor shoemaker of Armenian descent. Since childhood, music has been Arto's fundamental element of life, by which he has tried to communicate his greatest values: "love, respect and truth". The greatest musical influence of his life was his brother very famous musician and composer Onno Tunç. Onno was not only his brother, but his mentor, friend, supporter and one who encouraged Arto to develop his character. At the age of 11, he began his career playing and recording traditional Anatolian music with great legendary musicians and his brother, thus establishing himself as a professional musician throughout Turkey and Europe. In 1981 Arto moved to the United States and settled in New York. Here he performed and recorded with many well-known musicians including Paul Motian, Chet Baker, Joe Zawinul, Arthur Blythe, Wayne Shorter, Dino Saluzzi, Marc Johnson, Al Di Miola, Jim Pepper, Bob Berg, Gerardo Nunez, Mike Stern, Paul Winter, and System of a Down.

Career

Arto started a meaningful cooperation with the Armenian American oud player Ara Dinkjian. In 1985 was founded the quartet Night Ark led by Ara Dinkjian. Arto recorded the duo project with Ara Dinkjian Tears of Dignity (1994) and Onno (1996) homage to his brother Onno who died in a plane crash in 1996. These compositions were a clear expression of Arto's memories of his brother. In 1988, his first solo albums Virginland and Main Root were released.

In 1997 Aile Muhabbeti was released in Turkey and used as a movie soundtrack. Arto composed the songs of this new album with various Armenian and Turkish musicians. In 2000 was brought to life the next album Every Day is a New Life.

After 35 years of exploring music on all important stages of the world, Arto Tunçboyaciyan realized that he was looking for open minded and enthusiastic musicians, something he hadn’t found in either the Western jazz scene nor in his Anatolian homeland. Through his long-lasting and exciting musical research, Arto understood that he needed to work with musicians who were able to make his “sound worlds” finally audible in the form he had wanted for a long time and which fit his identity. Looking for answers, Arto decided to visit Armenia, the country of his ancestors. Two years later, in 1998, he returned to the capital, Yerevan and met pianist and keyboardist Vahagn Hayrapetyan, son of a well-known Armenian violinist. He asked Vahagn to introduce him to other musicians in town to find out, if eventually, he could start a new band project with them. Ten musicians got together for a first rehearsal and soon become what today is called The Armenian Navy Band. Some months later, in 1999, the band recorded their first album “Bzdik Zinvor” in Yerevan. The recording was followed by their first European tour in 2000, where they gained the hearts of the audiences in Italy, Germany, Austria and Spain with their Avant-garde Folk Music. The band then performed concerts in France, Belgium and the Netherlands. During a 2001 stopover in Istanbul, The Armenian Navy Band recorded their second album “New Apricot” in 2001. Since the release of their first album, the band tours regularly in Europe. Arto's next album was Türkçe Sözlü Hafif Anadolu Müziği (Light Anatolian music with Turkish words)(with the Armenian Navy Band) recorded in the winter of 2001.

Tunçboyacıyan's 2001 album Aile Muhabbeti was used as soundtrack in two films: Hemşo (2001) and Mon père est ingénieur (2004). Serart is one of his latest efforts, a collaboration between himself and Serj Tankian singer of System of a Down), who have found common ground in shared Armenian backgrounds and a passion for sonic explorations in creating music that is claimed to be "completely new." In the fall of 2003, a new project was born in a Yerevan studio. It was the beginning of a large sound project called “Sound of Our Life – Part One: Natural Seeds”. The project was put together by Arto and the Armenian Navy Band, who joined their talents one more time in the fall of 2006 for Part Two. Arto considers these albums his music diaries. They are one-hour-long compositions for the ANB and choir & string orchestras. Arto's original compositions express the sound of the past generations along with today's life. This is what he calls "avant-garde folk". We can say that the Armenian Navy Band represents the synthesis of Arto's musical journey and life experiences. As an ensemble with particular virtuosity, the band has great ability in performing live music and compositions taken from the tradition and from the current culture of Armenia. The Armenian Navy Band is, without a doubt, the most comprehensive expression of Arto Tunçboyaciyan’s 46-year-old musical journey, of his virtuosity as a composer, multi-instrumentalist and singer, as well as of his life experience and philosophy. In 2004 Arto Tunçboyaciyan opened the “ANB Avant-garde Folk Music Club” in the historical heart of Yerevan. A year later, the band released their first Armenian album, urging the world to protect natural habitat of Armenia. In 2006, the Armenian Navy Band was nominated for Best Band of Europe and the Audience Award at the 2006 BBC World Music Awards.

There is a hidden track on the album Toxicity by System of a Down (right after the song "Aerials"), where Arto contributed, with the band playing a traditional Armenian Church hymn, Der Voghormya (Lord Have Mercy). This track is commonly known as Arto, seeing as he was a significant part of it. He also played the instrumental part of "Science" in the same album, and his voice can be heard a couple of times in the interlude of "Bubbles", from Steal This Album!

In 2007 he formed Yash-ar with fellow Turkish-Armenian rock artist Yaşar Kurt. Yash-ar is made up of first part of his and Yaşar Kurt's first names.

In February 2011, Arto Tunçboyaciyan, as a band-member of The Paul Winter Consort, won the Grammy for the "Best New Age Album" for “Miho: Journey to the Mountain”. "Music is the time of my life. I don’t give direction to anybody. I let you imagine for yourself, but what I try to give you is Love, Respect, Truth. I believe this is the simplest form of wealth in this world for the path to trust and this is what we need."

Musicians

The lineup varies from traditional (duduk, zurna, kemanche, kanun) to contemporary (trombone, alto sax, tenor, soprano sax, trumpet, bass, drums, keyboard and piano). The ensemble’s unique vocals, the percussion and bular intertwine to deliver a magical world where past and present are mixed.

Arto Tunçboyaciyan (percussions, vocals, bular), Anahit Artushyan (kanun), Armen Ayvazyan (kemanche) Armen Hyusnunts (tenor & soprano sax), Ashot Harutiunyan (trombone), David Nalchajyan (alto sax), Tigran Suchyan (trumpet), Norayr Kartashyan (blul, duduk, zurna), Vardan Grigoryan (duduk, zurna), Arman Jalalyan (drums), Vahagn Hayrapetyan (piano, keyboards), Artyom Manukyan (bass, cello), Vardan Arakelyan (bass), Gagik Khodavirdi (guitar), Vahram Davtyan (trombone).

As sideman

With Marc Johnson & Right Brain Patrol

With Hank Roberts

With Paul Winter & The Earth Band

With Human Element

Awards