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Armenian jazz refers tojazz music composed byArmenian musicians, sometimes combined with traditional Armenian elements.

The roots of Armenian jazz trace back to 1936, when composer and trumpeterTsolak Vardazaryan formedYerevan's firstjazz band. Two years later, in 1938, composerArtemi Ayvazyan founded the Armenian State Jazz Orchestra, which quickly became one of the leading jazz orchestras of theSoviet Union. DuringWorld War II, Soviet Armenian authorities sent the orchestra to hold concerts for the Red Army.^[1] The orchestra's first drummer, Robert Yolchyan, became an important artist of Soviet and Armenian jazz, developing his own style over time and continuing to play and give master-classes until his death in 2001.

Following World War II, a complete ban was imposed on jazz music until the death ofJoseph Stalin in 1953.Nikita Khruschev’sDe-Stalinization policies lifted restrictions throughout the USSR. In 1954,Konstantin Orbelyan organized an Estrada quintet forArmenian Radio. Other jazz bands were founded inNairi Cinema, Yerevan Park of Communars, and others.

The early 1960s, known as theKhrushchev Thaw, saw a decrease in censorship. However, jazz remained a topic of disagreement throughout theSoviet republics. In his 1963 Declaration on Music in Soviet Society, Khrushchev assured that there would be no bans on music, though he criticized certain kinds of jazz, referring to some as cacophony. While jazz was no longer banned, restrictions remained, especially in terms of access to Western jazz musicians and literature.

Internationally, prominent jazz musicians such as giants were drawn to the music of Soviet-Armenian composerAram Khachaturian.Bill Evans introduced the music of Khachaturian toMiles Davis. Davis, in his autobiography, mentioned that "I had been listening to him and what intrigued me about him were all those different scales he used".^[2] This influence of Armenian classical and folk music on jazz would continue to evolve in the decades that followed.

During this period, numerous jazz bands and ensembles began to emerge. In 1963, while still a student atYerevan Brusov State University, jazz pianistLevon Malkhasyan founded the first small jazz band in Yerevan, the Levon Malkhasyan Trio, along withArmen Tutunjyan ("Chico") and Arthur Abrahamyan. In 1966, young composerMartin Vardazaryan founded the Estrada Orchestra, renamed in the 1970s as the Estrada Symphonic Orchestra under the direction ofMelik Mavisakalyan andYervand Yerznkyan. ThenStepan Shakaryan founded the jazz sextet Radio, and jazz trios were founded byDavid Azaryan and Artashes Kartalyan. Artists such as Datevik Hovanesian, often referred to as "The First Lady of Jazz of the Soviet Union", contributed to the integration of Armenian folk music and jazz into mainstream listening.^[3]

In 1998, Malkhas become one of the initiators of theYerevan International Jazz Festival.

In 2009Garik Saribekyan founded theNuance Jazz Band, an ethnic jazz sextet.

One of the most internationally recognized contemporary Armenian jazz musicians isTigran Hamasyan, a pianist known for his fusion of Armenian folk music with jazz and other genres, such as progressive rock.

• Armen “Chico” Tutunjyan
• Armen Hyusnunts – saxophonist
• Armen Martirosyan – conductor and pianist
• Arto Tunçboyacıyan – multi-instrumentalist and singer
• Artemi Ayvazyan – composer and conductor
• Datevik Hovanesian – singer
• Georgy Garanian – saxophonist, bandleader and composer
• Konstantin Orbelyan – pianist and composer
• Levon Malkhasyan – composer and pianist
• Tigran Hamasyan – composer and pianist
• Vahagn Hayrapetyan – pianist, singer and composer
• Vardan Ovsepian – pianist

• Armenian music
• Russian jazz

• Armenian Jazz 70. The past and present of Armenian Jazz

• Armenian jazz

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