Arto Tuncboyaciyan When asked about the meaning of music, Arto replies: "Music is the sound of my life. I don’t pretend to lead anyone. I leave it up to one’s imagination. What I try to express is love, respect and the truth." Arto works with Armenian musicians with whom he founded his group The Armenian Navy Band, a small orchestra rooted in Armenian and Anatolian traditional music inspired by contemporary life. The project was conceived in 1998 after a meeting in Yerevan with young Armenian musicians from different musical backgrounds including ethnic and contemporary Armenian music.

Since then, the idea to create a group to represent the sound of Armenia today was realised. During the years 2000 and 2001 the The Armenian Navy Band toured Europe to great acclaim from public and press alike. This experience is reflected in the latest CD "New Apricot"recorded in Istanbul for the Turkish label Imaj Müzik. Arto can be heard on various recordings including those of Chet Baker The Best Thing For You, Arthur Blythe Hipmotism and Night Song, Jim Pepper The Path, Marc Johnson Right Brain Patrol and Magic Labyrinth, Dino Saluzzi Mojotor, Al Di Meola World Sinfonia, Heart of the Immigrants and Kiss Me Axe, Bob Berg Virtual Reality and Riddles, Hank Roberts Little Motor People, Mike Mainieri An American Diary, Joe Zawinul Stories of the Danube and My People, Oregon Oregon 97, Paul Winter & The Earth Band Journey With The Sun, flamenco guitar master Gerardo Núñez Calima and many other great recordings.

Arto can be heard in performance on Friday evening of Mythic Journeys in concert with Coleman Barks, Robert Bly and cellist Eugene Friesen.

Find out more about Arto Tuncboyacyan at World Music Central.

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