Album Notes

After over two years in Andalusia, Spain, and over ten years as a professional guitarist, Vahagn entered the recording studio to release his first self produced album entitled \" short stories\" Collaborating with musicians such as Carlitos del Puerto (bass), Jimmy Branley (drums & percussion), Luis Conte (percussion), and Tigran Hamasyan (piano & keys) to name a few. Short stories is an album that blends the old with the new with imagination and originality. A must have for lovers of Flamenco and World music.


Flamenco has deep roots in Andalusian and Gypsy cultures, but few local players bring its Armenian elements to the fore as guitarist Turgutyan does here during intermittent passages (notably “Fourth River”). His darkly dramatic music is punctuated with instrumental surprises (the piano-and-horn-ornamented “Promenade”), complex explorations (the extended mix of “Mama’s Ruhmba”), somber elegance (“SanLucar,” in honor of teacher and flamenco leader Manolo Sanlúcar) and impressively articulated, fluid fretwork.

By Bliss- Pasadena Weekly