Friday, May 24th, at 7:00pm, Jazzbird welcomes the Arsen Nalbandian Trio for their album release concert! Featured artists include Arsen Nalbandian– Piano, Kenji Wagner– Bass, and Micah Miranda– Drums.
The Arsen Nalbandian Trio is a local jazz piano trio featuring Kenji Wagner on bass and Micah Miranda on drums. The trio will be presenting original arrangements of Great American Songbook standards from their latest album, “In Depth”. Dedicated to the stylings of some of the great swinging pianists in history such as Oscar Peterson, Ahmad Jamal, and Bill Evans, these intricately crafted arrangements aim to deliver an energetic and dynamic performance that one could closely associate to the spirit and essence of Big Band music. “In Depth” releases on all streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, and Bandcamp on May 18th. CDs will also be available for purchase at the show!
Arsen Nalbandian is a jazz pianist, composer, and arranger based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Heavily influenced by jazz musicians during the bebop era, Arsen demonstrates a strong commitment to swing and uses the tradition as a medium to express his musical influences into a distinctive vision. He’s also had the pleasure of sharing the stage with musicians such as Sean Jones, Dr. Jesse McGuire, Corcoran Holt, David Glasser, Doug Lawrence, Dennis Rowland, as well as Lewis Nash.
Kenji Wagner is a Seattle-born Phoenix-based bassist and multi-instrumentalist. His unique, forward-thinking approach to the music can be attributed to the influence that artists in the fields of modern jazz and americana have had on him. These include musicians such as Ambrose Akinmusire, Lage Lund, Bill Frisell, Rick Rosato, and Juliane Lage. Kenji has also had the fortunate opportunity to perform alongside many contemporary jazz luminaries such as Sean Jones, Melissa Aldana, Ashlin Parker, and Kyle Nasser.
Micah Miranda is a local jazz drummer of nine years and is currently attending Arizona State University studying Economics as well as Jazz Performance with his mentor, Lewis Nash. Influenced by legendary drummers such as Philly Joe Jones, Gregory Hutchinson, Lewis Nash, and Mel Lewis, Micah provides a tastefulness and consistency to the piano trio setting that facilitates the foundations of good groove.
Experience an evening filled with wonderful jazz and choose from a fine selection of wine, craft beers, and catered dinner options for purchase. Check back here or visit our Facebook page the Thursday before this event for a more detailed dining menu. Doors open at 6:00 pm, and the show begins at 7:00 pm.
Reservations for Jazzbird are now available. Click the “Get Tickets” button above to reserve your seats. Prices will range from $16-$28/each. For ticketing assistance, click the “TICKETING HELP” button to see step-by-step instructions on reserving seating in Jazzbird.
