Album Notes

Jeffrey Armen is an renowned Oud player. Originally from the East Coast, Mr. Armen relocated to Phoenix, Arizona in the mid-80s. His love of music started very young, with the violin and piano. As a child, he performed at famed Carnegie Hall. In his teens, enraptured by the sounds of this amazing instrument, Mr. Armen taught himself how to play the Oud by listening to recordings of masters. His talent and dedication can be truly appreciated listening to his performances.

The Oud is a 2000-year old stringed acoustic instrument. It is the ancestor of the lute, the mandolin and the modern guitar. The instrument has six courses, five of which are unison pairs, and the sixth is a single string. It is tuned in fourths, and is plucked with a quill. Originally, the quill was a feather, but now is a plastic or carved tool specially designed for this purpose.

The music produced by the Oud is unique and weaves around the listener, carrying with it all the mystery and enchantment of its centuries of existence. According to traditional lore, the wood used to make the instrument still held the songs of the birds who had lived in those trees. If you listen carefully to the music, you can hear the echos of the bird song.

"Whispers from the Wood" is Mr. Armen's second solo album. It is a collection of traditional songs collected from ancient trade routes. Each song was personally chosen by Mr. Armen to represent his love of music and the instrument.