Yessaï Karapetian - YESSAÏ (2022) [Hi-Res]

YESSAÏ is the sweeping debut album from Armenian-French pianist and composer Yessaï Karapetian. The bandleader arrives in full force, after strong showings on Guillaume Perret’s “A Certain Trip” (for which he won a Downbeat Student Music Award for Best Soloist) and ONEFOOT’s “Mektonized”.

Over the course of nine original compositions, Karapetian is riveting, playing with astonishing virtuosity and spirit. He is matched by a stellar band, anchored by bassist Marc Karapetian (the bandleader’s brother, himself a force, recently recording and touring with Tigran Hamasyan), drummer Théo Moutou, guitarist Gabriel Gosse, and saxophonist Mounir Sefsouf. The group traces its roots back to the Paris Conservatory, and the camaraderie shows.

On YESSAÏ, Karapetian presents music that is intense, beautiful, and reaching. “It took me 6 years of intense searching to put my band together for this recording. I tested dozens of instrumentations, from solo to trio to nonet; western instruments, Armenian folk instruments, electronics. I simply couldn’t calm down until I found the right combination. As it is often the case, though, the problem was within me. I had to fight my dark side, my ‘doppelgängers’ (a theme explored on the album’s first single, ‘Doppelganger10’) to break through. When I did, things miraculously unfolded in front of me on every level.”

YESSAÏ was produced by the acclaimed French trio ONEFOOT, made up of drummer Matthieu Font, bassist Marc Karapetian, and the bandleader himself. The legendary Studio CBE in Paris, where the album was recorded, also played a key role. “Since I was going to record in Paris, I decided my album should sound French. I worked at Studio CBE for many years, mostly as a backing musician for French pop artists. The history and sound signature of this room is incredible, truly unique. I always dreamt of recording my music there. Truthfully, the album couldn’t have been achieved anywhere else.”

Yessaï Karapetian, piano
Mounir Sefsouf, saxophone
Gabriel Gosse, guitar
Marc Karapetian, bass
Théo Moutou, drums