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Ara Dinkjian

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Ara Dinkjian
File:Ara Dinkjian.jpg
Background information
Born1958 (age 65–66)
OriginNew Jersey, United States
GenresFolk, Armenian folk
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter, performer
Instrument(s)Oud, guitar, cümbüş, mandolin, kanun, saz, kaval
Years active1986–present
LabelsRCA/BMG, PolyGram/Universal, Traditional Crossroads
Websitewww.aradinkjian.com

Ara Dinkjian (Template:Lang-hy; born June 18, 1958)[1][2] is an Armenian-American musician. He is the founder of the band Night Ark. Dinkjian is considered one of the top oud players in the world, his compositions have been recorded in thirteen different languages, which include the multi-platinum hit "Dinata" which was performed in the closing ceremonies of the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.[3]

Dinkjian has written songs for Eleftheria Arvanitaki,[4] and Sezen Aksu ("Vazgeçtim", "Sarışın", "Yine Mi Çiçek", "Hoş Geldin", among others). Turkish singers Gülşen, Kibariye, Mine Koşan, Ahmet Kaya, Coşkun Sabah, Burcu Güneş have recorded his songs.

Biography

Born in New Jersey to Armenian parents, Dinkjian made his professional debut at age five playing on the doumbag at the 1964 New York World's Fair. He accompanied John Berberian and George Mgrdichian. His earliest professional musical experience was accompanying his father Onnik Dinkjian, a renowned Armenian folk and liturgical singer.[5] He received a scholarship to The Hartt School, a performing arts college in Hartford, Connecticut. Dinkjian learned several western and eastern instruments (piano, guitar, darbuka) and in 1980 graduated from the Hartt College of Music, earning the country’s first and only special degree in the instrument for which he has become most well-known, the oud.

He formed his band Night Ark in 1986, which introduced listeners to a new blend of Anatolian roots music fused with jazz.

His first album under the Night Ark band name was Picture, released in 1986.

In 2002, Dinkjian was chosen to represent Armenia in the First International Meeting Of The Oud, where twelve of the world’s top oud players gathered in Thessaloniki, Greece for three days of solo concerts, master classes, and exchange of information.[3]

His first solo CD, An Armenian in America, was recorded live at the 2005 International Oud Festival in Jerusalem.[6]

At the 2008 Oud Festival in Israel, he recorded an album with Sokratis Sinopoulos – lyra (Greece), Tamer Pinarbasi – kanun (Turkey), Rimon Haddad – bass (Palestina) and Zohar Fresco – percussion (Israel), and named it Peace on Earth.[citation needed]

Night Ark reunited for a performance at the Jerusalem International Oud Festival on November 11, 2010.[citation needed]

Festivals

Dinkjian has performed in several festivals, mostly in Israel, where his music is very popular:[7]

  • Ethnic music festival: Songs of the oud[7]
  • Jerusalem International Oud Festival[8][9]
  • ArmenStock 2004
  • Días del laúd Festival
  • 1980 Montreux Jazz Festival[10]

Night Ark

Ara Dinkjian's band, Night Ark, came together in 1986 after Steve Backer, a producer for RCA, heard a demo of one of Dinkjian's original compositions and promptly issued an invitation to record.

Members of his band Night Ark include Arto Tunçboyacıyan on the percussion as well as pianist/composer Armen Donelian and Marc Johnson. He is accompanied by Zohar Fresco on percussion and Adi Rennert on keyboards.

Discography

Night Ark

  • 1986 - Picture, RCA/Novus
  • 1988 - Moments, RCA/Novus
  • 1998 - In Wonderland, Polygram
  • 2000 - Petals on your Path, EmArcy
  • 2000 - Treasures, Traditional Crossroads

Ara Dinkjian - solo and with friends

  • 2006 An Armenian In America, Krikor Music
  • 2008 Peace on Earth, Krikor Music
  • 2013 Finding Songs, Krikor Music
  • 2013 Conversations with Manol, Kalan Music
  • 2015 Three of Us, with Secret Trio, Kalan Music
  • 2015 1915-2015 Hope&Truth, Kalan Music

References

  1. ^ "Life in the Armenian Diaspora: Ara Dinkjian". 2007-06-01. Archived from the original on 2013-01-19. Retrieved 2008-08-11.
  2. ^ "Ara Dinkjian - Bio". www.aradinkjian.com. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
  3. ^ a b "Three Ouds: Turk, Arab, Greek and Armenian". Alwan For The Arts. 2007-11-21. Retrieved 2008-08-11.
  4. ^ "Ara Dinkjian Is One of Featured Musicians in Eleftheria Arvanitaki's New CD to Be Launched with Series of Concerts Starting Next Sunday". Armenian Reporter. 2001-05-12. Archived from the original on 2012-10-20. Retrieved 2008-08-11.
  5. ^ "Music From The Fringes Festival: An Armenian In New York". Alwan For The Arts. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
  6. ^ "♫ An Armenian In America - Ara Dinkjian". cdbaby.com. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
  7. ^ a b Fiske, Gavriel (2007-11-01). "Ethnic music festival: Songs of the oud". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
  8. ^ Fiske, Gavriel (2006-10-26). "A lute for all seasons". Music. The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2016-04-17.
  9. ^ Levin, Jenny A (2007-12-24). "Call of the Oud (Extract)". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2016-04-17.
  10. ^ "Nyiama Ensemble". Montreux Sounds. Archived from the original on 2006-05-24.
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