ARMIK
Malaga
(p) (c) 1997 Baja/TSR Records
12tks/57mins

I am very glad to have an opportunity to write about this album of Armik, who is, in my opinion the first-class guitarist. Malaga is his fourth album, released by Baja/TSR records. In this album Armik continues the tradition of performing music, named by him "latin gypsy jazz". The previous albums by Armik Rain Dancer, Gypsy Flame and Rubia were made in this tradition. However, I would like to characterize Armik's style as flamenco with some pop-addition, and this addition was made very delicate and gentle.

Armik is guitarist from God. His sparkling style can be recognized from the first cords of Malaga. Behind the easy and free performing of Armik is the high-level technique, and perfect skill of guitar playing. When people hear his music, they can say: "This is Armik". "In my music you notice lots of percussion,"says the musician. "That's because the rhythm makes you feel it".

From his young years Armik often visits Spain. He likes noisy Madrid and Barcelona, but special love Armik has to port city Malaga. In this city live Paco de Lucia. The latter is considered the teacher of Armik. On the album Rain Dancer are touching word of gratitude to Paco de Lucia, inspiring Armik. "When you in Malaga", Armik says, "You hear the music everywhere and it makes you happy."

While listening to Malaga, one can see that the pupil is not less talented that his teacher. Armik does not have complicated jazz improvisations, as Paco de Lucia, his music more simple. Besides, Armik's music is very beautiful. It has everlasting gypsy sadness, scope, the spirit of free wind and endless roads. It is useless to distinguish any separate compositions, all of them are perfect. I will stop only on the last composition of the album, named Until Next Time. In it Armik has shown that he can easily improvise, placing the listener into gentle silver stream of wonderful guitar music.

By its sounding Malaga is closer to Gypsy Flame. This album is more spanish, it contains less caribbean rhythms than Rain Dancer or Rubia. All albums by Armik can be compared with noble metal of the highest hallmark. If you compare Malaga with other albums by Armik, you can find new bright colors.

Serge Kozlovsky