Flashback
Soirée for Mitch Smolkin's Valentine Special
|
Scotiabank Place, Ottawa - Oct 20 Air Canada Centre, Toronto - Oct 23 Rogers Arena, Vancouver - Oct 29
Recording Session with Musical Director Nigel Wright
Neil Donell, Dylan Bell, Nigel Wright, Alana Bridgewater, Levon, Emilie-Claire Barlow
Levon performed in and was the orchestra contractor for the 25th (and final) Fashion Cares Concert
Levon's photograph was featured in photographer Kaloust's Retrospective, along with fellow Armenians, Parajanov, Charles Aznavour and Atom Egoyan
|
with JB alumni Gabe Antonacci
Matt Horner, Pat Kilbride, Levon Ichkhanian, Wilson Laurencin & Alana Bridgewater
Levon is performing in Ross Petty's Pantomime - The Wizard of Oz
CM interviews rhythmic masters from around the world for this year's
percussion feature: Dame Evelyn Glennie, Nannette Fortier, Richard
Moore, Rick Lazar and Sal Ferreras. Their instruments and approaches
may vary, but their reasons for playing are the same – to
connect people to something larger than themselves through music.
(at a friend’s 70’s theme B’day party)
Adrian Marchuck, Levon Ichkhanian, Aubrey Dan, Jeff Madden, Elodie Gillett, Matt Cassidy, Rosie Shaw,
Des McAnuff, Adam Brazier, Grant Tilly and Josh Young
with Vasyl Papaduke, Robi Botos & Viktor K
Levon and Vasyl
Houseband: Rick Fox - Musical Director Sasha Luminsky - Accordion Michele Fox - Violin David Campion - Drums George Koller - Bass Levon Ichkhanian - Guitar Nikki M James and Levon, after performing the tribute show The LOTR Trio - Levon, Michele & Sasha
Levon and Chantal Kreviazuk
Come Fly Away Toronto Orchestra
Al Kay, Pol Coussee, Mark Promane, Mike Herriot, Sasha Boychouk, Jason Logue, Jim Keen, P.J.Perry, Colin Murray, James Nelson, Levon, Dave Young, Rob Cookman, Paul Ringenbach photo by Al Kay
On Stage - Photo Racheal McCraig Photography
Levon Ichkhanian, Colm Wilkinson, Deirdre Wilkinson and Jeff Madden
Levon and Marie Osmond
Levon, Brian Wilson, Jeff Foskett
Levon and the Global Village Orchestra
featuring Jeff Madden, Alana Bridgewater & Cleopatra Willams
Jennifer Valentyne, Ma-Anne Dionisio, Mark Masri, David Atkinson, Brittany Gray, Sterling Jarvis, Levon, Elodie Gillet
Vasyl Papaduke and Levon
Backstage
Logan Medland's "Fingers and Toes"
Opening
A family-friendly evening of live music, food, dancing and fun to support Alpha Alternative Elementary School
With Gia Ionesco (Keyboards), Pat LaBarbera
(Sax), Wilson Laurencin (Drums), John Johnson (Sax),
Allan Hetherington (Percussion), Pat Kilbride (Bass) and Clifford
Ojala (Sax/Clarinet)
March 17th, 2011
with Wilson Laurencin, Mark Korven, Victor Bateman and Tania Gill
(photo by: Chris Hutcheson)
with Melissa O'Neil
with Lord of the Rings Alumni Michele Fox, Fraser Walters & Amy Laing
checking out the new Godin Multiac Oud
"the Wild Things" - Jon Maharaj, Joaquin Hidalgo & Levon - In Costume
Hanging with the Band
Los Angeles
A short film about two turkey hunters and the turkeys that they are hunting
by West Hyler www.westhyler.com
Join Twitter and Facebook for more
Production
Corey Moosa
Producer
David Donar
Producer
Shelley Butler-Hyler
Co-Producer
West Hyler
Director (1st Project); Producer (1st Project)
Writer (1st Project)
Cast
Bo Metcalf
Voice Gender: M
Mark Prudhomme
Voice Gender: F
Steve Rankin
Lead Actor Gender: M
Thomas Hudgins
Supporting Gender: M
Camera
Brad Cassetto
Sound Mixer
Eric Rogers
Cinematographer/DP
Fess Shelton
Key Grip
Art Department
Dirk Hollerman
Production Designer
Paloma Young
Makeup Artist; Hairstylist; Costume Designer
Post Production
Brad Cassetto
Sound Editor
Caryn Waechter
Editor
Ryan Prestridge
Digital Effects
Composer
Levon Ichkanian
Animation
Ryan Cushman
Animator (1st Project)
Shane Acker
Animation Supervisor
Peter Bleakney, Jeff Madden, Mayor David Miller, Levon, Logan Medland
Richard Moore, Jon Anderson & Levon
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Kumar has collaborated with a number of renowned musicians like Reeg Deb, Louiz Banks, Selvaganesh, Matt Cooker, Keith Peters, Levon Ichkhanian, Rajesh Vaidya, Sanjay Divecha, Dennis Chambers and Christy Samuel, which of course gives us one more reason to give this a hear.
by Levon Ichkhanian
Monster players from Devin Townsend and John 5 to Pavlo, Rik Emmett, Oscar Lopez and more all take part in this year's edition of Canadian Musician's guitar feature. Join the crew as they talk about technology, technique, and of course, their toys.
Monday, April 12, 2010
7:00 to 9:15 pm
Metropolitan United Church
56, Queen Street East ( Queen & Church)
Toronto, Ontario, M5C 2Z3
$150/ticket – includes post-performance reception
$95/ticket – performance only
(a charitable receipt will be issued for a portion of the ticket
prices)
Join us for an evening of celebration, to honour the life works
and commitment to social justice of Cathy Crowe and the Reverend
David MacDonald. On April 12th, the Toronto United Church Council
will pay tribute to these two social entrepreneurs, both of whom
have worked tirelessly to effect change for society’s most
vulnerable.
This star-studded tribute will include performances from some of
the finest musical performers on Toronto’s stage and screen.
Proceeds will benefit 40 Oaks, a Regent Park social housing initiative
of the Toronto Christian Resource Centre through Toronto United
Church Council’s Community Relief Fund, a partner of church-based
social justice initiatives for 118 years.
Featuring:
Gemini and Juno award nominee, Jackie Richardson
Juno award nominee, Danny Brooks
Acclaimed singer and song writer, Monica Schroeder
And From Toronto’s We Will Rock You, Alana Bridgewater
Rehearsals |
|
Concert |
|
John MacMaster |
Gail Bliss |
Levon |
Jeff Madden |
Dave Young |
Mark Camilleri |
Garth Drabinsky |
Mike Herriott |
Jackie Richardson |
Liz Baird |
Happy Birthday Sam
|
"Ever thought of Theatre?"
Levon will be Performing at the KING
TUT GALA
Friday November 20, 2009 7:30 pm
Be the first to experience King Tut: The Golden King and the Great
Pharaohs.
Jersey Boys Orchestra
Show extented to March 21, 2010
Backstage with Frankie Valli
with Frankie's Guitarists Roberto Angelucci and Gary Melvin
Maryem Tollar
with
Levon Ichkhanian
Alan Hetherington
Ian deSouza
Ernie Tollar
Saba Alemayehu Asfaw
Roula Said
Joanna deSouza
Sunday November 1, 7:15 PM
Vocal Series
Tues. Oct. 13, 2009
12 – 1 p.m.
Maryem Tollar, vocals/qanun/percussion
Ernie Tollar, sax/flutes
Levon Ichkhanian, guitar
Inspired by the Middle East
Critically acclaimed Egyptian-Canadian singer-songwriter Maryem Tollar joins forces with two of Toronto’s leading world musicians, Ernie Tollar (sax/flutes) and Levon Ichkhanian (guitar), in a diverse program of music inspired by the Middle East, ranging from traditional songs, hundreds of years old, to original creations by all three artists.
With Music Production Supervisor Sam Lutfiyya
Aubrey Dan and Bob Gaudio on stage
Bob Gaudio with members of the Toronto Jersey Boys Orchestra
with Des McAnuff
Levon Ichkhanian mp3s now available on iTunes
Guitar 2009 What It Takes To Succeed by Levon Ichkhanian
Is your life’s ambition to be the best guitarist you can be? Are you dedicated? We couldn’t ask for more committed veteran players than Michel Cusson, Ted Quinlan, Javier Mas, and Mike Francis to give it to you straight.
An evening of celebration, to pay tribute to Norman Jewison and the Reverend Gordon Winch, two devoted activists who have been named to the Order of Canada for their contributions to building a caring, civil society, for their life-long active commitment to raising the human spirit in Toronto and around the world.
Proceeds from this star-studded tribute will go to Council's Community Relief Fund which is fully committed to social housing initiatives for homeless citizens of Toronto.
Levon will share the stage with performers from Toronto’s leading stage productions:
Jackie Richardson
Louise Pitre
Yvan Pedneault
Jennie Such
Alana Bridgewater
Danny Brooks
Thom Allison
and Master of Ceremonies: Don Harron
Toronto United Church council for more information
Rocco's 2083 Lakeshore Blvd W, Etobicoke, M8V 1A1 (416) 251-5100 Reservations Recommended
10 Via Renzo Drive, Richmond Hill L4S 0B6
Tickets (905) 770-5222
www.cosmomusic.ca
This coin will strike a chord with all Canadians. Music lovers will quickly notice how it’s shaped like a guitar pick—the perfect tie-in to the Six String Nation Guitar. The brainchild of broadcaster Jowi Taylor, this one-of-a-kind instrument is made of wood, bone, metal and stone from across the country.
Highlights: Crafted with the distinctive specimen finish, its design evokes the beauty of a hand-crafted guitar, complete with guitar strings “resonating” inside the selective hologram.
Reverse: The inlaid maple leaf and intricately crafted representation of the Six String Nation Guitar with a selective hologram of the logo used to symbolize its six strings.
April 12, 10.30 a.m.
with Ilios steryannis, Jason Jestadt, Jaswinder Singh, Anwar Khurshid
and Brenda Macintyre
at the Art Gallery of Ontario - March 30, 2009
The long-awaited novel by the internationally celebrated author of Fugitive Pieces, the debut novel that catapulted Anne Michaels into the forefront of literary superstars.
with Lenny Graf , Richard Uglow, Colin Barrett, Jim Gelcer and
Levon at 16
1980
featuring Maryem Tollar, Mary Jane Lamond and others
Levon produced and performed on this 2009 JUNO nominated CD
Levon performed on this 2009 JUNO nominated CD
Backstage
Enroute with police escort
Happy New Year with Logan Medland
Levon currently performing
in the premier Canadian production of Jersey Boys.
Muzik Etc Magazine
Cover Feature
Available at your local music store
Maryem Tollar Ensemble CD Release
"Cairo to Toronto"
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Enwave Theatre, Harbourfront Centre. 235 Queens Quay West.
Box Office 416-973-4000
Maryem Tollar group
Canwest Cabaret Festival
Saturday October 4, 4.15 p.m.
Sunday October 5, 8.30 p.m.
Soulpepper young centre of the arts
youngecentre.ca
Marvin Hamlisch and Simon Spiro
Broadway and Beyond
with a 37 piece orchestra
Tuesday September. 19, 2008
Beth Tzedek
1700 Bathurst street
Ticketmaster
416-781-3514 x.7
Canon Theatre
Toronto
September 9 to October 5
with Dee Dee Bridgewater
Armenian atheletes |
The Great Wall |
Olympic Torch |
Olympic Rings |
Taylor Dane and company |
Sheila E. |
Olympic Village |
Alexandros Nicolaidis (Silver medalist Tae Kwan Do) |
Soundcheck at the Prince Jun Palace |
with Oliver Jones at the Jade Market |
State
Of Bass In 2008 by Levon Ichkhanian
Featuring Esperanza Spalding, George Koller, Jimmy Haslip, and Benny
Rietveld.
A collective of musicians assembled from around the world augments Mitch Smolkin’s powerful vocals. They include a striking diversity of talents, forging a broad range of cultural traditions from three continents. This includes the playing and vision of producer and guitarist Levon Ichkhanian, the inimitable duo of Marcelo Moguilevsky and Cesar Lerner from Buenos Aires, the multi-instrumental genius of British Columbia based Boris Sichon, the improvisatory flare of Berlin based trumpeter Paul Brody, and the vocals of Toronto based songstress Aviva Chernik.Saturday August 30, 7:00 p.m., in the Enwave Theatre at Harbourfront Centre. Tickets are $18 in advance and $25 at the door, available from the Harbourfront Centre box office at 416-973-4000 or online at www.harbourfrontcentre.com.
Blue Skies Festival in Clarendon, Ontario
AUGUST 3, 2008
Maryem Tollar - vocals, qanun
Ernie Tollar - flutes, sax
Levon Ichkhanian - guitar
Ian de Souza - bass
Alan Hetherington - percussion
Aug 5 – 11
Calgary Centre of the Arts
July 3 – 20
Vancouver Centre of the Arts
Ottawa Chamber Music Festival
JULY 28,29, 2008
Glenn Gould Studio
JUNE 22 2008 - 8 pm
with special guest artists from Egypt:
oud and violin master Alfred Gamil
virtuoso vocalist, violin and oud player Mohamed Aly
And local guests:
Bassam Bishara - oud
Levon Ichkhanian - guitar
Debashis Sinha - percussion
Alan Hetherington - percussion
Alfred Gamil
Mohamed Aly
Javier Mas
Alain Caron
Levon Ichkhanian Group
at the Rex
Saturday May 17, 2008
Matt Horner (Keys), Wilson Laurencin (Drums), Andrew Stewart (Bass), Joaquin Hidalgo (Perc),
With Special Guests
Peter Lutek (Sax), Maryem Tollar (Voice)
Photos by Marek Majewski
Guitar 2008 by Levon Ichkhanian
Top-level guitarists give you the goods on gear and professional
success.
An Evening with
Ola Turkiewicz - vocals
Marek Majewski , Levon Ichkhanian- Guitars
Friday April 25, 8.00 p.m.
Consulate General of the Republic of Poland
2603 Lakeshore Blvd. West, Toronto, Ontario M8V 1G5
Phone: (416) 252-5471
MEMORIES OF THE KING
April 20, 2008
Rose Theatre Brampton
Live at The Pilot
April 13, 2008
Photos by Marek Lazarski
www.cooljazzphotos.com
Working the corporate gigs
by Levon
Interviews of George St. Kitts, Orin Issacs, Danny Pathan, Paul Lamoureux, Richard Maslove, Tony Carlucci
3 Mo' Divas Opening Night
Ramona Dunlop, Levon, Marion J. Caffey, DeVonna Lawrence, Nova Y. Payton, Sipho Kunene, Andrea Jones-Sojola, Laurice Lanier.
Three Mo' Divas
March 4-16
@ The Wintergarden Theatre
189 Yonge street
www.threemodivas.com
Band members:
Anastasia Victory, Dave Young, John Coffee, Steve Hunter, Sipho Kunene and Levon
Maestro Paco Pena
Massey Hall
Frank Botos Quintet
with
Robi Botos, Attila Darvas, Chris Gale and Levon.
@The Rex
Friday February 15
9.30 p.m.
SAMBA SQUAD
February 1
@ the Lula Lounge
9.30 p.m.
Robi Botos Quartet
@ The Pilot
Clinic
Park Street Collegiate, Orillia
Featuring
Anwar Khurshid, Brenda MacIntyre, Levon Ichkanian, Jennie Such
Simone Soman, Billy Newton Davis, Danny Brooks and David Rosen
The Language of the Heart
by Andrew Moodie
Workshop
Factory Theatre
125 Bathurst street, Toronto
Dec 14, 15, 16
Reading - Sunday December 16, 8.00 p.m.
Rick Shadrach Lazar's
SAMBA SQUAD
DVD release party
With guests: Alberto Alberto, Eliana Cuevas, Laura Mae Lindo, Gord Sheard Ben Grossman and Levon
Sunday December 2, 8.00 p.m.
Concert for the lead gift in support of the Dr. Jean Augustine
Chair in Education.
Gesu Amphitheatre, 1200 Bleury Street, Montreal , Quebec Call (514)
352-8775 , (514) 620-6612
The Robi Botos Quartet
Atilla Darvas- Bass, Frank Botos - Drums, Robi Botos - Keys, Levon Ichkhanian - Guitar/Vocals
22 Cumberland Street, Toronto
Isabel Bayrakdarian
With Serouj Kradjian, Fabian Carbone, Marie Berard, Roman Borys, Roberto Occhipinti. Shalom Bard, Daniel Bolshoy, Levon Ichkhanian.
Session Gigs Article
with Greg Phillinganes, Steve Lukather, Nathan East and Shawn Pelton
Interviewed by Levon
Festival Arabe De Montreal
Thursday November 8, 2007, 8.00 P.M.
Jeudi 8 novembre à 20h00. Théâtre Maisonneuve, Prix du billet : 29 $, 39 $, taxes et redevances en sus
Rés. : Place des Arts 514- 842 2112 / www.pda.qc.ca ou Admission 514-790 1245 / www.admission.comTrois quartettes dirigés par Wajdi Cherif, Bassam Saba, Levon Ickhanian (Tunisie, États-Unis, Ontario). Une présentation de Radio Couleur Jazz
Friday November 2, 2007
7.30 p.m.
Rose Theatre, Brampton
Wednesday. October 17, 6.00 p.m.
Ryesrson University
350 Victoria street
Featuring: Andrew Stewart, Larnel Lewis, Levon
Mitchell Leonard
Smolkin
A Nign Iz Geboyrn - A Song Is Born
Saturday October 6th 2007 - 8:00pm
Al Green Theatre
For Tickets - 416-924-6211 ext. 0
With international guests:
Klezmer En Buenos Aires - Argentina
Pianist - Cesar Lerner
Clarinetist - Marcelo Moguilevsky
Trumpeter - Paul Brody - Berlin
Multi Instrumentalist - Boris Sichon - British Columbia
Guitarist - Levon Ichkhanian - Toronto
Vocalist - Aviva Chernik - Toronto
Nuit Blanche
Saturday, September 29th.
HUBA, BRAVO tent
(University /Bloor, across from the Royal Ontario Museum)
10.00 p.m.
WORLD ON A STRING
Friday, September 28 @ 8:00
Enwave Theatre
$20 advance / $25 door
A quintessentially Canadian cross-cultural collaboration, the concert features such sublime talents as Rich Brown, Aditya Verma, Levon Ichkanian, Amir Koushkani and Mansa Sissoko on instruments ranging from sintir and oud, to setar, banjo, kora, guitar, sarod and more.
Guitar article
Master Tele picker Steve Piticco Interviewed by Levon for the Candian Musican magazine
Book Launch
Ambivalence by Jonathan Garfinkel
Music by MEDINA with special Guest Roula Said
Gladstone Hotel
1214 Queen Street West, Toronto
Sept 18, 7.00 p.m.
Taste of the Kingsway
with Demo Cates/Stan Fomin
Sat, Sept. 8, 8.00 p.m.
Wave 94.7 Jazz stage
www.sixstringnation.com
HARIHARAN
Waqt Par Bolna
CD Launch, Mumbai
Hariharan, A.R.Rahman
Levon Contributed on a multitude of guitars and plucked world string instruments on Hariharan's Urdu BluesCD
with Liberty Silver/Eddie Bullen
Friday August 10, 8.30 p.m.
www.oldmilltoronto.com
BASS FEATURE ARTICLE
by Levon
Jazz at the Blue(mountain), Aug 4, 7.00 p.m.
The Courthouse , Aug 3, 8.00 p.m.
Collingwood Jazz, Aug 1, 7.00 p.m.
with
Eddie Bullen/Marisa Lindsay
OTTAWA CHAMBER FEST
July 31, 2.00 p.m.
Christ Church Cathedral
Maryem Tollar, Ernie Tollar, Alan Hetherington, Levon
Eddie Bullen and Friends
Sunday July 29, 7.00 p.m.
at the Distillery, Toronto
with Marisa Lindsay
Friday July 20, 6.00 p.m.
Mainstage
Sketch by Podi Lawrence
from the Waterloo Jazz Festival performance
Siva Mani
Air Canada Centre, Toronto
Waterloo Jazz Festival
Levon Ichkhanian Group
Friday July 13, 7.30p.m.
Mainsatge
BC Tour
Maryem Tollar & Ehab Lotayef
July 5 - WISE HALL, Vancouver B.C.
July 7 - Our Way Home Reunion - Peace Conference, Castlegar, BC
July 8 - Harrison Hotsprings Festival for the Arts, Harrison Hotsprings,
BC - outdoor stage
July 9 - Harrison Hotsprings Festival for the Arts, Literary Night
Toronto Jazz Festival
Photo courtesy of www.cooljazzphotos.com
Friday June 29, 4.00 p.m.
Primus stage, Nathan Philips square
(Queen/Bay)
Levon Ichkhanian Group
featuring
Wilson Laurencin, Andrew Stewart, Matt Horner and Joaquin Hidalgo
Polo For Heart
Sunday June 24, 1.00 p.m.
Gormley Polo Centre
with
Arturo Tappin
Bruce Skerrit, Wilson Laurencin, Rhea, Arturo Tappin, Levon, Roger Williams
Ottawa Jazz Festival
with Marisa Lindsay
June 22, 6.30 P.M.
Mainstage
GUITAR FEATURE ARTICLE
by Levon
Sandor Szabo(Jazz guitarist from Hungary)
Levon Ichkhanian Group
Sunday June 17, 2.30 p.m.
Heritage Park.
With Marisa Lindsay
Saturday June 16, 2.30 p.m.
Mainstage
Guitar Clinic
Wednesday June 13, 7.00 p.m.
Music Pro
Barrie, Ontario
26 Barrie View Dr.
(705)725-1070
With Gioumar Campbell
June 9
Luminato Tent
9.30 p.m.
Eddie Bullen and friends
May 31, 8.30 p.m.
Deepak Chopra
Godin Guitars Ad
Aviva Chernick, Chris Gartner, Levon Ichkhanian
Wednesday April 18, 9.00 p.m.
www.lula.ca
Funky Drummer
Mr. Clyde Stubblefield(James Brown)
Rubens De La Corte - Guitarist
Maryem Tollar, Ernie Tollar, Sinha, Levon Ichkhanian
Garrick Theatre, Feb 15, 7.30 P.M.
Marissa Lindsay
Liberty Silver
Waterloo Entertainment Centre
Levon, Trichy Sankaran, Joy
?, Levon
President, Armenian Composers Guild with Seda Amirkarayan (singer)
AYC Toronto concert
Christmas CD Recording session
Recording Session
Mr Jerry Douglas
Levon, Wilson, Pat Kilbride
with guests Alberto Alberto, Eliana Cuevas, Jason Jackson, Lara Mae Lindo, Gordon Sheard, Armando Borg, Maninho Costa, Humberto Goncalves and Levon www.sambasquad.com
Arrival
soundcheck
View from the Jazz Hill
Leaving
September
16
6:00 p.m.
MARS Centre
101 College Street
Toronto, Ontario
House Band
.
Measha Brueggergosman
Clifton Joseph
Eddie Bullen, Anselem Douglas, Liberty Silver, Demo Cates, Johnny Bullen, Levon, Andrew Stewart
Jeff Coffin
Johnathan Craig, Wendy Solomon, Sasha, Pat Kilbride, Bogdan Djukic & Levon
Liberty Silver sitting in with Kush
Rebecca Mendoza Jackson - "Galadriel"
Anne Lindsay, Levon, Amy Laing Nick Coulter, David Quakenbush, Pat Kilbride, Levon
with Lilliana of Saga Musical Instruments, Makers of Levon's Celtic Bouzouki with Joaquin Hidalgo and Wilson Laurencin
Matt Horner, Wilson Laurencin, Andrew Stewart & Levon Levon Ichkhanian Quartet - Théâtre Jean-Duceppe - Place des Arts photos by Katherine Calder Becker backstage with Peppino D'Agostino Click Here for More Godin Tribute Performance Picts
photos by Katherine Calder Becker
Click Here for More Montreal Jazz Fest Performance Picts
Levon Ichkanian Quartet at the Tuborg Stage with Gord Sheard, Joaquin Hidalgo and Andrew Stewart Nathan Phillips Square with Barry Romberg, Steve Donald & Peter Lutek
with David Buchbinder & Daniel Barnes
with Moses Znaimer following a performance
Feature article written by Levon based on his interviews with Sting's Dominic Miller, Billy Idol's Steve Stevens, Oscar Peterson's Ulf Wakenius, Chick Corea's Frank Gambale, Marc Anthony's Aaron Mclain . . .
Wednesday May 10 2006
Doors @ 7:00pm, Show @ 8:30pm, Admission $12, $50 dinner and show package.
Direct from NYC. The future of Middle Eastern percussion music goes back to the Cavemen.With special guests David Buchbinder, Levon Ichkhanian and John Johnson.
read the article
From the depths of Middle-Earth….Levon Ichkhanianinterview by Karen Ages
By the time you read this, the new Mirvish Lord of the Rings will have been playing for about two weeks. The music is unusual in that it was composed by three “camps” so to speak: A.R. Rahman (India), the Finnish group Vårttinå and British composer Chris Nightingale, who put it all together. (Tolkien is thought to have been inspired by Finnish folk-epic the “Kalevala” for his story).
I spoke with Levon Ichkhanian, one of the musicians in the pit orchestra, itself an unusual combination of instruments and musical personalities. Levon is known to many as guitar side-man with many local and international musicians, including Maryem Tollar and Peter Murphy. Recently, he also travelled with Rings composer Rahman, one of India’s foremost film composers, on his “3D World Tour” of India, Singapore and the UK. “We started rehearsals in Chennai, where we learned 50 or 60 tunes from his movies. On tour, the singers were the actual singers from the soundtracks, whom you don’t actually see in the movies, as the actors are lip-syncing to them. There were many singers, dancers and musicians on stage for these shows, with images projected on huge screens behind them. The audience wore special glasses to get the 3D effect.”
Levon was born to Armenian parents in Beirut, Lebanon. Three of his uncles were guitarists and his father was the music director for many middle-eastern singers. He came to Canada at age 12, and played his first professional gig a year later. Since then (he’ll be 42 this month) he seems to have led a charmed life with many musical and creative opportunities coming his way. In addition to his three solo CDs, he has played on numerous commercial recordings, film soundtracks, (including scoring the music for one of Atom Egoyan’s early films) and has toured extensively throughout North America and Europe.
Of his most recent tour, with Rahman, “it was like going to heaven and back!” he says. “These singers could sing just one phrase and make you cry....getting to meet and hang out with esteemed musicians I’ve long admired, especially in India, and the travel component, and on top of that, getting paid for it all, it was like winning the lottery! The whole tour was like that, one great thing after another.”
And now down in the pit at the Princess of Wales, he’s excited by this new adventure. “I’m fascinated by the whole process, it’s my first time doing anything like this.” He’s part of the “folk band” component of the orchestra, which consists of himself on Celtic Bouzouki, Anne Lindsay (violin, nickel harp, jouhikko) and Sasha Luminsky (accordion). The rest of the orchestra consists of a multitude of percussion instruments, brass, strings, keyboards, and a variety of different flutes played by Les Alt. I asked him about the music itself, whether it was Rahman for some scenes, Vårttinå for others (the music was mainly composed by their bouzouki player), Nightingale, etc. “It’s very hard to answer”, says Levon. “The music has been truly married together; it’s kind of like looking at your kids and seeing a bit of yourself, your spouse, your mother-in-law etc. The music is a true hybrid and Chris Nightingale (orchestrator) had the challenge of putting it all together. We’ve got classical players, folk and jazz elements, all held together by conductor Rick Fox”.
I asked Levon if he’d had a chance to see any of the production. “Yes, sometimes in rehearsal we’d get a chance to go up into the theatre and watch, and it’s really something, the sets and effects are truly unbelievable! It’s like there’s this whole other world at the Princess of Wales theatre; when I go in there, the outside world is shut off and I’m suddenly in Middle-Earth; it’s such a living thing, and I’m having so much fun!”
For more about Levon Ichkhanian, visit his website: www.levonmusic.com
LEVON ICHKHANIAN'S GONE GLOBAL
He is one of the most driven artists ever to have appeared in the pages of Muzik Etc magazine. He just can't stop creating! Recently he's been on a slew of albums; he's toured the world with A.R. Rahman; he's maintained his own band plus the World Music Ensemble; he's done clinics spanning from his native Toronto right across the Atlantic Ocean. Whether it's global, performing in Singapore, or local, participating in a concert to support striking CBC workers, Levon is there. He also figures highly in the world music component of the Toronto presentation of The Lord of the Rings.
LEVON ICHKHANIAN A L'ECHELLE MONDIALE
C'est un des artistes les plus dynamiques qui aient apparu dans les pages de Muzik Etc. Il new peut juste pas s'arreter des creer! Dernierrement, il a joue sur un nombre phenomenal d'albums, il est partien tournee mondiale avec A.R. Rahman, il a donne des concerts avec son groupe ainsi qu'avec le World Music Ensemble et il a voyage de Toronto jusqu'a l'Atlantique pour donner des ateliers. Qu'il s'agisse de partiper a un concert a Singapore ou pour encourager les emplyes en greve de CBC a Toronto, on peut compter sure Levon. Il se fera qussi remarquer pour sa musique lors de las presentation a Toronto du Seigneur des Anneaux.
at the Lula Lounge
@ Q Music
Shurum Burum "Jazz Circus"
Levon's currently in the LOTR Orchestra
with Janne Lappalainen from the band "Varttina"
at the ACC
Levon contributed to the music of
Starring: Amir Khan Director: Rakyesh Mehra Music by A.R. Rahman
Darryl Brown, Levon, Damon Wood, Keith Jenkins
with Benjamin Nhassavelle Guitarist from "UMOJA"
Dubai
pre-show with great singer, Kailash Kher, in Palace Grounds, Bangalore, India
with TGIF
Kathleen Kajioka, Abu Joska (Ernie Tollar), Abu Edouard (Levon) and SINHA
presents Music at Midday
Rick Shadrach Lazar, Ernie Tollar, Rich Browm and Levon Wed. Sept 28, 2005 12:30-1:30 4700 Keele St - McLaughlin Performance Hall
soundcheck
lantern garden
at the Music Garden
Levon is featured on a track with Maryem Tollar and Band
A celebration of music from the shores of the Mediterranean Performed on traditional stringed instruments: Oud, Bouzouki, Banjitar Levon Ichkhanian (plucked stringed instruments) Gordon Sheard (accordion) Ernie Tollar (woodwinds) Wilson Laurencin (percussion) Attila Darvas (contrabass)
Sunday, Sept 11, 2005 4pm
The Eddie Bullen Band
Liberty Silver
(photos by Larry Lee)
A.R. Rahman |
||
BlaaZe |
Hariharan |
|
Sivamani |
Alma Ferovich |
|
Srinivasa Murthy |
Shankar Mahadevan |
Daler Mehndi |
Also Featuring: Udit Narayan
British Columbia TourVancouver Prince George Duncan Saltspring Island Coquitlam Langley |
|
Maryem Tollar & Mariam Matossian |
|
|
on the way to rehearsal for A.R. Rahman World Tour |
|
Ride |
Shankar, Selvaganesh & Makesh Vinayakram |
Keith Peters, T.H. Vikku |
U Srinivas, U Rajesh |
Soundtrack Recording for Whole New Thing A film By Amnon Buchbinder
Read the feature article in June's issue of Canadian Musician Magazine, written by Levon. This feature highlights the experience and advice of 16 top Canadian guitarists of diverse backgrounds, each recognized as a leader in their respective fields.
Phillip Stanger, Levon, Ernie Tollar, Maria and Wilson Laurencin
at the Music Gallery
Master Classical Guitarist Remi Boucher
with Ian DeSouza (bass) and Ritesh Das (tabla)
Vehkavaara & Piltch (Avalon *Universal) Nominated for the Instrumental Album of the Year (2005)
Levon, Yvette Tollar & Tanya Gill
Lasido (Godin Guitar Co) visit. Photo by Katherine Calder Becker
with Geoff Young, Kelly Jefferson, Kevin Turcotte, Blair Mackay, Rich Brown, Barry Romberg & Levon
featuring:
Barry Romberg, Hugh Marsh, Geoff Young, Kevin Turcotte, Kelly Jefferson, Rich Brown, Kieran Overs, Adrean Farrugia, Greg De Denus & Levon www.barryromberg.com
featuring:
Maryem, Ernie and Omneya Lily Tollar,
Levon, Rich Brown
Debashis Sinha, Rick Shadrack Lazar,
Daniel Barnes, Mark Duggan, Ravi Naimpally,
Kathleen Kajioka, Jayne Brown,
Sophia Grigoriadias, Yvette Tollar
maryemtollar.com
Rich Brown, Maryem, Ernie Tollar, Deb Sinha, Levon
Colin Campbell jamming since 1979
North York, Friday October 9th
Levon has been added to this new and informative site.
Scenes from the Shoot Backdrop artwork by Kurt Swinghammer
EnRoute to play at the Drake, party venue for the Toronto International Film Fesitval (thank you Antonella for the surprise photo!)
London Guitar Shop in conjuntion with D'Addario Canada presented Levon Ichkhanian
Saturday September 11, 2004 at the London Guitar Shop 364 Richmond St
Levon, Roula Said and Daniel Barnes
Yvette Tollar, Roula & Levon
with Rita di Ghent and Yvette
with Raquy
with Brian Katz
D'Addario
Robert Godin
Mark Kelso, Wilson, Levon & Ralph Angellilo
Wilson, Ray Williams and Levon
Traditional Greek Music produced by Dino Carambelas
Levon guests with guitar and oud on the CD
Souxou Mouxou Band Members: Andreas Andreopoulos Stefanos Hatzistefanou Anne Thompson Nikos Papagiannopoulos Dino Carambelas www.souxoumouxou.com
Terry McKenna, Kathleen Kajioka, Levon and Ben Grossman and at the Toronto Music Garden
The Hamazkayin Association presented Levon with a Commendment Award at their 75th Anniversary Celebration
Gear from my involvement in a play development workshop for Soulpepper Theatre Company
Outake photo from the video shoot to the Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band's single "Shekine" on their new release "Sweet Return", directed by Jesse Rosensweet.
Long & McQuade in conjunction with D'Addario Canada warmly welcomed Levon to Stratford on June 26, 2004
Levon is featured on Rick Shadrach Lazar's Montuno Police new CD "Nomads".
Levon is interviewed for Musico Pro's May issue.
Levon is on the new CD by bassist, chapman stickman and Peter Murphy bandmate Fergus Marsh.
Available through: fergus@bellnet.ca
A comedic moment with the one and only "Nug" on the Toronto Show
photo by: Shamakah Ali
Levon joins
Catherine Manoukian
Isabel Bayrakdarian
Peter Oundjian
Atom Egoyan
and
Arsinee Khanjian
on the cover feature of Horizon Magazine
photos by: asifquadir@hotmail.com
Featuring Levon, Sasha Luminsky, George Koller, Ernie Tollar, Kathleen Kajioka, Roberta Jensen, Rick Shadrach Lazar, Eric Stein and Wilson Laurencin.
World Music CD Produced by Levon
Mandoguitar!
A new mandolin from Goldtone Instruments
This unique mandolin has 6 strings and is tuned an octave higher than the guitar.
An impromptu photo from the Barrie Jazz & Blues Festival with my group featuring: Attila Darvas, Wilson Laurencin and Robert Botos. Thank you all for coming out to my jazz fesitval performances and guitar clinics throughout Canada. It was great seeing some familiar faces and meeting new friends.
Catch Levon Live on TV every Thursday, Friday & Saturday 10pm and Sunday 8pm as part of the T Dot All Stars house band on Toronto 1's variety show "The Toronto Show".
Levon contribued to Canadian Idols certfied gold CD
New Posters
From Monster Cable, the world's leading manufacturer of cables
Alain Caron, George Koller, Patrick Killbride Matt Horner, Gordon Sheard, Anthony Panacci John Johnson, Ernie Tollar Wilson Laurencin, Mario Melo
Fusion as we knew it in the '70s hasn't disappeared, but it isn't as plentiful as it was back then for every new fusionist who comes along, there are a lot more people playing smooth jazz and crossover jazz. Levon Ichkhanian is among the guitarists who, in the '90s and 2000s, has done his part to keep fusion alive. It isn't hard to see why his second album is called Travels; this sophomore outing, like his 1996 debut, After Hours, has a very global, multicultural outlook. Travels underscores the Toronto-based Ichkhanian's interest in Latin music (Afro-Cuban and Spanish as well as Brazilian), but it also incorporates elements of Middle Eastern music which isn't surprising when you consider his background. When a musician is born in Lebanon and is of Armenian descent and when his father is a well-respected pianist who has a long history of working with Armenian pop singers it stands to reason that some of that Armenian/Middle Eastern influence would assert itself. But multiculturalism isn't the only thing that Ichkhanian has going for him; he also brings a strong sense of lyricism to the table. While Ichkhanian has impressive chops, he isn't beating listeners over the head with them. Ichkhanian is obviously smart enough to realize that the chops-for-the-sake-of-chops approach has its limitation thus, an Ichkhanian solo typically has feeling, warmth, and emotion as well as technique. This jazz-rock CD (which he produced with his father, pianist Edouard Ichkhanian) isn't the work of an exhibitionist; it's the work of a storyteller. After Hours remains Ichkhanian's most essential album; nonetheless, Travels is a rewarding sophomore effort for the talented guitarist.
Alex Henderson
Levon guested on Oud & Guitars for the Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band's new release "Sweet Return" featuring Jane Bunnett
Watch for the video "Shekhine" coming out soon
CD Release Concert
Conducting a clinic at Musicfest, an event that brings together over 30,000 music students from across Canada for education, concerts and competitions.
Levon contributed on drummer/composer Daniel Barnes' CD "Culimnation". 11 tracks from swing to funk to latin . . . featuring Kevin Turcotte, Mike Murley, Kelly Jefferson, William Carn, Meiron Helly, Robert Botos, Gord Sheard, Niel Chapman, Rich Brown, Marc Rogers, Alan Hetherington and Armando Borg.
Levon played on drummer/composer Geordie McDonald's latest release "Inside the Outside" with Ernie Tollar, Nancy Walker, Kieran Overs, Phil Dwyer and Hugh Marsh
with Geordie McDonald & Phil Dwyer at the Music Gallery
Levon recorded on Mernie's CD "Flowers of Forgiveness"
Look for the music video for "Omneya part 1 - Wish"
Featuring: Alain Caron, George Koller, Patrick Kilbride Matt Horner, Gordon Sheard, Anthony Panacci John Johnson, Enrie Tollar Wilson Laurencin, Mario Melo
200 Men band with their Singer
Rob Piltch, Hugh Marsh, the Singer, Levon, Mark Kelso, Fergus Marsh
<home> © 2021 LIP MUSIC GROUP INC