A Musical Odyssey from Armenia to Appalachia. A 90-minute concert experience featuring original compositions from Raffi Joe Wartanian’s forthcoming album MAKAM DELTA, performed by the Sér Ensemble (oud, violin, guitar, bass, and percussion). The program merges Armenian folk traditions, modal jazz, flamenco, rebetiko, Appalachian bluegrass, and improvisation, tracing innovative connections between music of the Mediterranean and the Americas. The concert also incorporates brief reflections on the oud, cultural influences, thematic considerations (composition, diaspora, intercultural dialogue), and occasional poetic interventions, cultivating an engaging and inclusive experience.
Raffi Joe Wartanian & the Sér Ensemble unite oud, violin, guitar, bass, and percussion to paint a sonic soundscape where the Appalachian Mountains slope into the Mediterranean Sea. Led by composer, writer, and educator Raffi Joe Wartanian, the ensemble—featuring percussionist TJ Troy, guitarist Alexy Yeghikian, violinist Shant Tanielian, and bassist Felix Kochendorfer—draws from Armenian folk, modal jazz, flamenco, rebetiko, and poetry. Backed by producer Gaby Moreno, Levantine Music, and the UCLA Armenian Music Program among others, the artists showcase virtuosic improvisations, innovative compositions, and video projections of nature to evoke the sense of reflection, wonder, and discovery that inspired this project.
“Through his fresh approach to the ancient oud, Raffi Joe Wartanian exudes dexterity, nuance, and compositional finesse. His music organically traverses genres with a subtle ease and fluency, often intertwining multiple traditions and influences in a way that feels cohesive, authentic, and innovative. In doing so, he not only honors the oud’s rich history, but also expands its possibilities. With MAKAM DELTA, his new album of oud compositions, he has moved the music and instrument forward to new frontiers.” -Ara Dinkjian, oud master