As a child, Hamasyan aspired to be a thrash metal guitarist, but, fortunately, he took up the piano before he got the chance to pursue that dream. Playing since the age of three and attending music school since the age of six, it's no surprise that Tigran has developed virtuosic abilities. However, his talent is not limited to his piano playing; he's also got some serious composition chops. While his playing style runs more along the lines of jazz improvisation, is is not uncommon for him to incorporate folk melodies from the music of his native Armenia into his compositions. So, if you are into complex soloing on top of multicultural genre-blending, I'd highly recommend that you check out more of Tigran's material.
Got any favorite songs that incorporate musical elements from multiple cultures?