The Aramite Band

 Artist: The Aramite Band

LP: Hot Sands

Song: "Hot Sands"

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Song: "Zungalo"

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Hot sounds from Hot Sands! This 1958 record by The Aramite Band features instrumental songs as well as tracks with vocals, so I've included one of each. I wasn't able to find much info about the group on the web, but the LP liner notes are included below, and you can hear (and briefly see) oudist Leo Barsamian working his musical magic at the 2009 St. Stephens Armenian Apostolic Church Picnic at Camp Haiastan, Massachusetts here. Please note that the exotic and captivating music included on this album was recorded in one of the finest studios in the East! ...at Ace Recording Studios in Boston, to be precise.

Hank Mardigian Sextet feat. George Mgrdichian on the Oud

Artist: Hank Mardigian Sextet feat. George Mgrdichian on the Oud

LP: Oriental Delight
Song: "Mood Orientale"
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Song: "Caucasian Dance"
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Song: "Come My Sweet One"
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Here are some mid-week delights from "the Orient"—or Armenia, to be precise. Not much info about Hank Mardigian or his Sextet on the web, but you can find the New York Times obituary for famed oud player George Mgrdichian here and the "Oriental Delight" LP liner notes are included below.

ORIENTAL DELIGHT is the music of Asia Minor expressing
its sad and joyous moods with exotic and mystic sounds.
This music is truly an expression of Armenia—its people,
culture, history, and not to be overlooked, their feeling.
They knew of no superficial moods or ways of life. There
was only one way to do things—the right way—the full
way. The music is intoxicating because it is played from
the heart with all its warmth and color. The men smoked
their favorite nargula (water pipe), while the women with
veils and necklaces of gold pieces and coins danced to
the exotic and captivating age-old melodies of never-
to-be-forgotten oriental sounds.

Massacres, tortures, and enslavements are blended with
much joy in the music of these people, who, for many
centuries knew only of peace and happiness. History
tells us of the greatness of its early kings, people, and
nation. All of its early music was joyful and told only
of happiness. Then, sadness blanketed the nation
and its people. And, thus, the reason for the moods
of Oriental Delight.

Hank Mardigian's Sextet has, since early childhood, lived
and played oriental music. In the eight, short years that
the six gifted musicians have been playing together, the
band has become one of America's most popular and
well-known Armenian bands of today.

Hank Mardigian, in his playing of the mandolin and the alto
saxophone, has captured the style and authenticity of the
ancient music of Asia Minor. The popularity of the band
is due to his leadership, arrangements, and inspiration.

The oud, a large hand-carved pot-bellied long-necked
mandolin-type string instrument, is the most important
in oriental music. George Mgrdichian, without question,
is considered one of the best oud players in America
and is a perfectionist. He plays very fereely, with genuine
feeling, and his interpretations of the oud have won wide
recognition for him. He is such an artist that when he plays,
the music "lives," and makes you wonder when the oud
will start "talking."

Roupen Gureghian, the youngest member of the band, plays
the clarinet with feeling, and not from notes. The music moves
him so, that the result is a distinctive style of playing.

The rhythm section, which is most important to an oriental
band, has Berge Jehanian playing the castanets for added
flavor. The section is paced by Roger Mgrdichian, who plays
the treble dumbeg, an hour-glass-shaped drum which is
open on one end, with a unique style. George Terkanian
plays the bass dumbeg, which stands thirty inches high
and he excels as "the whistler" in "Come My Sweet One."

Oriental music knows no nationality or language barrier
and Oriental Delight, from the start, will inspire you to
join hands in the barr (dance), or merely sit back, relax,
and enjoy the age-old moods of that distant Middle East.

[ George Mgrdichian: 1935-2006 ]

Armenia

while posting the Armen tracks below, I discovered I was a little mixed up as to Armenia's location in the world (I was confusing it with Albania). I did a Google image search and found some maps and also this beautiful picture of Armenia's Mount Ararat with a guy holding some grapes.

Albert & Jenny Armen

Artist: Albert & Jenny Armen

LP: Albert & Jenny... With Love
Song: "Disco Tango"
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Song: "Kefie Yerk (The Party Song)"
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I stuck the formidable "Disco Tango" on my last mix, but I think it deserves a private spotlight--even just so people can see Jenny Armen's pretty white dress. there's some info about the Armens on the back of the LP, written by "M. Garbedian," which is obviously a pseudonym for one Albert Armen:

Albert Armen presents ten of his original hits; Jenny Armen sings all of Albert's
compositions. Jenny has been performing for 15 years in night clubs; on TV, radio
and record albums. This talented Armenian couple have their own unique style,
especially after Albert spent 7 years training Jenny's voice. This extra training
helped to enhance her voice and personality, causing many of the live audiences
to comment on her charisma and magnetism--setting her style far above ALL
other Armenian singers.

Albert Armen, the great composer and conductor is full of energy and style--just
what Armenians need today. Many Armenian musicians hesitate to play his songs
because his special styling, along with unique rhythm and punch, seems to have an
extraordinary quality which is almost impossible to duplicate. -- M. Garbedian

Jenny must have been a real drag before Albert came along. in any case, since he spent 7 years working on her personality and voice, I figured I should post two songs from their album instead of just one.