At twenty-one, pianist Tigran Hamasyan has already done much to launch his name into the world of emergent young lions. He has toured throughout Europe, moving beyond his native Armenia to take prizes in jazz competitions from Moscow to Monaco. And, after winning the prestigious Thelonious Monk Jazz Piano Competition in 2006, he studied in the United States before returning to Paris, where he recorded his first album, New Era. Tigran will be joining Gene Ess, Harvie S, and Tyshawn Sorey for these New York dates.

Gene Ess brings his award-winning musicianship from a very diverse background. He grew up playing the classical piano, due to his mother being a classical pianist and a well-known piano instructor. His early years were filled with the classical sounds of Beethoven and Chopin. Simultaneously, Gene was receiving a mix of influences: he was exposed to the indigenous music of Okinawa, and - growing up on a US Air Force Base- to the pop and jazz music of the day.

Cindy McLeod of Jazz Review writes "With the release of Sandbox and Sanctum, Gene Ess has firmly cemented his place as a major jazz artist of the new millennium. His post-bop work is delivered with adventurous spirit and intense ethos, offering a powerful, unique voice to the idiom. A guitarist of virtuosic proportions, Ess plays fluid chromatic lines and his performance is simply stated, yet reveals stunning technical fluency, the signature of all true greats. There's a delicious sense of tension/release with his performance riding over the rhythm section, Ess is a master of the art of creating dynamic interplay. Supple, sanguine, and superb are the three words that kept popping into my head as I listened, this recording knocked my socks off and will be in my CD player on a regular basis for many years to come."

Gene performed in clubs all around Okinawa at the age of 14, and was considered a child prodigy by musicians and by his music instructors. Not satisfied, Gene left to George Mason University, where he pursued classical music studies, after high school graduation. There he studied with Larry Snitzler, a prominent concert guitarist who was once Andres Segovia's disciple. Gene also began studying orchestral composition under Dr. Glenn Smith.

Downbeat magazine presented Gene's performance of Lennox Berkeley's ‘Theme and Variations' with the ‘Outstanding Performance Award' in 1983. Consequently, Gene received a scholarship to attend the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he continued his musical quest and was heavily influenced by the music of John Coltrane. During those years, Gene continued performing and started leading his own bands that included, among others, pianist Danilo Perez. The Guitar Player Magazine described the performance of Gene's composition by his group GSQ as "electrifying fusion, played with solid technique and soul". After studies with Jerry Bergonzi and Charlie Banacos, Gene graduated from Berklee with honors in 1989 and moved to New York in 1990.

Moving to New York in 1990 proved fruitful. Gene's first ‘gig' in New York was at Condon's. In the band, together with Gene, were Rashied Ali, Reggie Workman, Eddie Henderson, Antoine Roney, and Sonelius Smith. Gene's collaboration with Rashied Ali has continued to this day.

Gene has performed his music in Europe, Asia, and the United States, both as leader of his own group and as a sideman. To this day, it is impossible to list all the outstanding musicians that Gene has worked with. Some of them are: Carlos Santana, Rashied Ali, Ravi Coltrane, Danilo Perez, Matt Garrison, Santi Debriano, Gene Jackson, Tony Moreno, Lonnie Plaxico, Reggie Workman, Slide Hampton, Cindy Blackman, Archie Shepp, Eddie Henderson, William Calhoun, Kirk Lightsey, and Yamashita Yosuke.

Musicians: Gene Ess (guitar)

Artist's Website: http://www.jazzgenemusic.com

Jazz Style: Various Jazz Styles

Cachaca Address: 35 W8th Street New York NY 10011 U.S.

Phone: (212) 388-9099

Venue Website: http://www.cachacajazz.com