The ArmAs Estate Wine & Jazz Festival 2017

27.08.2017

ARTS AND CULTURE

The ArmAs Estate Wine & Jazz Festival 2017

Summer in Armenia started with wine and jazz. The historical meeting of the two national treasures took place in ArmAs Estate: in the village of Nor Yedesia, thirty minutes from Yerevan, among vine yards of the company that already became one of the leaders of Armenian winemaking.

 


From June 2-4, ArmAs Estate hosted the first annual Wine & Jazz Festival where guests were treated to a Feast for the senses – Fine Wine, Fabulous Jazz, Flavorful Foods, a Fantastic View, and Feelings Galore. The 3 day festival included 4 events, with 7 performances and over 30 of the finest jazzmen including – in order of appearance – Goght Band, Artyom Manukyan Group, Chico’s New Trio, Ann Kostanyan, Vahagn Hayrapetyan’s Trio, Armen Hyusnunts with Time Report, and Jazz Veterans Martin Vartazaryan, Yervand Yerznkyan, Jack Shirinyan, Armen Tutunjyan, and special guests Levon “Malkhas” Malkhasyan and Artur Ispiryan. Sadly, just days later, Armen “Chico” Tutunjyan passed while playing tennis after a long day of recording his weekly TV Show “Jazz Time.” Indeed, even in his passing, he recited jazz, with romance, a lyrical poetry and an indescribable symmetry in the notes and keys of life. He performed with his new trio of talented young jazzmen whom he had schooled, and on the next day Chico had the farewell performance of his life with those whom he had played with in his very first performance over forty years ago. Chico’s legacy and his contribution to Jazz was invaluable, through his books, his teachings, his recordings and lyrical writings, as well as his countless recitals, the last of which we were fortunate to enjoy at ArmAs Estate.
The ArmAs Wine & Jazz Festival was indeed yet another reminder of all the cultural elements of our past and present that we have to share with the world. Over 600 guests, including expats, repats, tourists and locals, enjoyed the contemporary and legendary musicians that continue to shape jazz culture, Armenian and international alike. Likewise, the Renaissance of Armenian Wine continues to treat us with fine wines with doses of history shaping the future.