Atmosphères might just be ECM’s finest album ever.

There are two things you should know about Armenia: they have the world’s second finest alphabet and they have Tigran Hamasyan. The pianist with one foot in the Armenian tradition and the other in jazz – and a left hand in rock – is being hailed by Mehldau, Hancock and Corea and praised by the music press. Atmosphères comes out on ECM in the fall; and Manfred Eicher says it is perhaps the best album he has played on! The band plays only a few exclusive concerts in Europe this year but they are thankfully coming to Victoria!

With Arve Henriksen and Eivind Aarset on the team, this is bound to be atmospheric and incredibly beautiful, and the whole package is gently pierced by Jan Bang’s electronics.

Tigran Hamasyan – piano, Arve Henriksen – trumpet, Eivind Aarset – guitar, Jan Bang – sampling and live electronics