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March 24 2006
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>From many views, a unique vision
By J. C. Lockwood/ newburyport@cnc.com
Friday, March 24, 2006 – Updated: 03:02 PM EST

They say every picture tells a story and it probably does, but that
story – any story – can be told in any number of ways. This is the
guiding principal behind “Stories as One,” a intriguing multi-media
piece being presented next week at the Firehouse Center.

The production began with a series of paintings of the human form
by Gordon Przybyla. The stories at the heart of the paintings were
interpreted by jazz pianist Vardan Ovsepian, then grew further,
incorporating several other voices – cello, violins and bass – and
becoming the Vardan Ovsepian Chamber Ensemble. And then the dancers,
and then the Celtic harp and flute.

“It just got bigger and bigger,” says Ovsepian, the Armenian-born
pianist who has been teaching at The Musical Suite since graduating
from Berklee College of Music in 2000. “It’s still growing. And it’s
still not finished composition.”

The final piece of the puzzle in the project, is the audience.

The project, which will be staged one night only, attempts to
weave together the spontaneity and the instinct of jazz improvisation
with the traditions of European art music. The idea is that the
observer is immersed in an atmosphere of illumination, form, color
and movement synchronized to Ovsepian’s original score. The different
interpretations combine into one uber story, which is what the
audience takes away with it.

Przybyla, a graduate of the Pratt Institute, is a filmmaker,
photographer and a painter who deliberately keeps his biography
sketchy. Ovsepian has released three CDs on the Fresh Sound – New
Talent label. In September 2001, the label launched the artist with a
solo piano CD Abandoned Wheel, which included all original
compositions inspired by music of Philip Glass and Brad Mehldau. A
year later, Vardan was invited to bring his quartet for a recording
of his second CD, Sketch Book, with a special guest Mick Goodrick. In
2004, the Barcelona-based label Fresh Sound released Akunc featuring
his quartet and a cellist Agnieszka Dziubak.

This is not first time their work has been linked. The pianist used
one of Przybyla’s sketches in the liner notes for “Sketchbook,”
Ovsepian’s last release. And Ovsepian also composed a short
six-minute piece for the soundtrack to “Dance,” Przybyla film.

The idea for “Stories As One” came to Ovsepian when he was at one
of Przybyla’s exhibits last year. Initially, the idea was to have
some Przybyla works on stage during one of Ovsepian’s concerts, but
the painting visceral impact of the pianist. “They just blew me
away.” he says. ”

There will be nine paintings shown, projected onto 6-by 9-foot
screen. They will be the visual element to seven stories inspired by
the paintings. The music will not be set pieces. There will be a lot
of improvisational work involved. After a certain amount of time, the
images will begin to “melt away” on the screen, giving the pianist 45
seconds to finish his thoughts.

“I know the music will be wonderful,” says Przybyla. “The
question is the mechanics of it all.” Ovsepian agrees. “A lot of it
is more ‘what key is it in’ that what the meaning it.

“Stories As One” marks the premiere performance of the Vardan
Ovsepian Chamber Ensemble (VOCE) is a newly formed group comprised of
violins, cello, flute, double bass, percussion and piano.Musicians
include violinists Nancy Assad, Megumi Sasaki, and Michele Walther,
cellist, Fabrizio Mazzetta and bassist, Joshua Davis.The choreography
and dance performance will be by Julie Pike Edmond and Andrea M.
Blesso.

Interested?

“Stories as One,” a multimedia show featuring jazz, painting and
dance, takes place at 8 p.m. March 31 at the Firehouse Center in
Newburyport. Tickets are $15, $12 for students and seniors and $10
for member of the Society for the Development of the Arts and
Humanities. For more information, call 978-462-7336 or log onto

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress