Spotlight on the Naghash Ensemble from Armenia

The Naghash Ensemble is an Armenian group which is new to me, they combine Armenian folk influences with Western classical with the energy of jazz and rock. The group arose when the Armenian composer, John Hodian heard an Armenian folk ensemble and the resulting fusion created the ensemble. He describes himself as someone who was raised listening only to Armenian Music in the home, studying European classical music in his youth, making a living as a jazz improviser but like all of us was constantly surrounded by contemporary rock music.