J. Armen Meschian
New York City, NY | Established. Jan 01, 2015
Music
Press
...it was one of the best albums I'd heard this year. 'Plan B' really is a beautiful album, and I can't recommend it highly enough. - Ruth McNerlan
...he has far too much of a gift for melody and a way of getting inside your soul the way he uses his voice, and his extensive musical background prior to his solo career definitely shows... - Nick Karn
...Song after song brings sultry beats, dreamy chords, melodies you can drift away on, and that warm voice... - Jennifer Layton
…smooth…has a lot of drive and commercial appeal… - The Music Review
…His voice is expressive and yet intimate. His solo guitar playing is soulful and is reminiscent of Carlos Santana's acoustic work… J. Armen is a talented singer/songwriter and guitarist, who's album “Plan B” I highly recommend. - Henk te Veldhuis
...he can really pick a guitar. His lead style brushes against the blues, but it’s got a lot more Santana flavor, and laid against his jazzy chording, is really pleasant... - Steve Knowlton
…approach of Armen has a soothing, penetrating quality… - Bill Ribas
…The sonic quality on this CD is first rate and the overall smoothness of "Plan B" is a refreshing and welcome change in the music industry. I give this CD my highest rating… - Raffi Meneshian
...From 1 to 10 the CD is a perfect 10. Brilliantly done J.! ...when someone has as much talent as he does you'd have to be deaf to give him anything else!.. - Brandon Dilks
Discography
Plan B - Released in 2004
Independent
Unsolicited- Released in 1996
AMAF Records
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Born Armen J. Meschian in 1973 in Yerevan, Armenia, J. Armen discovered the gift of music in his late teens. Shortly after arriving in the US, he began studying guitar with Robin Stone, professor at Berklee College of Music. He then made his musical debut at the age of 18 under the assumed name “J. Armen” as lead guitarist of the Boston-based band, “Bones Inc.”
One year later, in 1993, he emerged as a songwriter and co-founded the band “Medicine Hat.” In 1994 the band released two songs on a compilation CD titled, “Longfellow Sound Volume I” then in 1995 independently released a full-length album titled “Unsolicited.” Medicine Hat enjoyed a successful five-year run, toured the East Coast, received rave reviews, posed for the Ticketmaster Mastercard, but after failing to complete a second album, called it quits in 1998.
Armen’s musical exploration led him to New York City where he found inspiration in local Latin Jazz and Modern Folk movements. He wrote a new arsenal of songs and in August of 1999 went on to tour Eastern Europe. A year later he began work on his solo album, Plan B, which came to completion in 2003. It features a remarkable lineup of musicians. Among them are Latin Jazz veterans, percussionist Wilson 'Chembo' Corniel and trumpeter John Walsh (Tito Puente).
Presently Armen resides in Manhattan where he continues to explore new musical horizons. Over the course of time he has played and/or recorded with artists such as Sirena Sol, David Easton & The J-Krew, Layla Davias of Spectrum Music, Jon Zucker and more... He also produces independent artists and records movie soundtracks. Other highlights in Armen’s career include performances at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, CA, Ambassador Auditorium in Pasadena, CA, Lizzy West’s music video "Rope Me" and ABC World News. Armen is also a Voting member of the Recording Academy, New York Chapter.
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Armen’s credits include:
Recording:
• Solo release "Plan B" published independently
• Guitars, backing vocals and co-production on "You Got What You Wanted"
by David Easton & The J-Krew, released in 2006
• Medicine Hat's "Unsolicited" published by AMAF Records released in 1996
• Longfellow Sound Volume 1, compilation featuring Medicine Hat, released in 1995
• Lead Guitar on track 2 on Spazzoid Records LP released in 2005
• Guitar on single "Change" included in the book by Kathryn Cramer and Hank Wasiak entitled:
"Change The Way You See Everything Through Asset Based Thinking", 2006
• Guitar on Arthur Meschian’s album, “The Monologue of a Crazed Violinist”
• Composer of the musical score for the Columbia University theater production of “Mirrors”
• Producer of the award-winning Armenian A Cappella Folk Trio, “Zulal”
• Producer/Engineer of musical srore and sound effects for the film "Stone,Touch, Time"
performed by Zulal A Cappella Folk Trio.
• Producer/Engineer on PreMusical Syndrome by The Sirens
Misc:
• House guitarist for theatrical production Maktub with Mahina Movement June 2007
• Appeared on ABC World News as lead guitarist with Introducing Drea in January 2007
• Appeared (played guitar) in Lizzie West's music video "Rope Me" (Warner Brothers) in April 2006
Stage Management:
• Stage Manager of April 24 Commemoration Concerts in 2003 and 2004
Cooper Union Great Hall, NYC
• Stage Manager of Jesus Christ Superstar Rock-Opera (AEA)
Producers Club, NYC. Produced by Live Stage Productions
Links
