Garik Saribekyan


Garik Saribekyan is a composer and musician, band lead and founder of Nuance Jazz Band. Garik is widely regarded as one of the most notable characters on the Armenian jazz stage, and has been named Honourable Culture Contributor of Yerevan in 2014.

Early life

Garik Saribekyan was born in a family of musicians and has become familiar to musical instruments since early age. His father, now Honoured Artist of Republic of Armenia, has noticed his outstanding feeling of rhythm when Garik used to tap rhythmic beat sequences on a chair, who, at that time was nearly as tall as the chair itself. Due to this, many predicted his musical career as a drummer. Luckily, his music teacher gave him freedom to express and develop in the direction that he felt most passionate about.
Also, Garik used to listen to his father play on tar, which influenced his music in future to contain ethnic elements.

Education

1977-1984 Garik attended Yerevan Musical Secondary School after Edward Mirzoyan - piano classroom and graduated with excellence.
1988-1993 attended Yerevan state conservatoire after Komitas piano composition department and earned Graduation diploma.

Career

Garik's talent was quickly noticed, which enabled him to participate in various musical projects since 1993, playing piano in Yerevan's most popular music clubs, in various official and private events in different Armenian regions, as well as in Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, Russia, Georgia, Iran, Doha and Sydney, Australia.
In 2008 Garik Saribekyan founded a jazz band called "Why Not". The group divided soon after creation, however rapidly gaining popularity in a short period of time, and having recorded 3 singles.
Garik Saribekyan's compositions have been included in a range of albums and works
In 2009 Garik founded Nuance Jazz Band. The band is well known for successfully experimenting with qanun in their jazz compositions.
The band members are Garik Saribekyan, Suren Zakaryan, Albert Ordinyan, Ruzanna Kirakosyan, Artur Yeghiazaryan, Aleksandr Grigoryan.
On 30 April 2014 during the celebration of International Jazz Day in Yerevan, Garik Saribekyan was awarded the title of Honourable Culture Contributor of Yerevan by mayor of the city, Taron Margaryan.

Personal life

Garik is married since 1990, has two children.