Eduard Harutyunyan

Eduard Harutyunyan started his musical journey at the age of 10. His first band was Children's Lapterik. Robert Eolchyan, the best Armenian jazz drummer of those times gave him lessons and recommended Eduard as a lead drummer of the band. Eduard played with Vardan Arakelyan in the band (now the best Armenian electric bass player), Vahagn Hayrapetyan and Orestis Moustidis, the founder and the leader of the Greek folk-jazz group “Nor-Dar”.

While at the Polytechnic Institute, Eduard continued to play in jazz quartet “Urvakan”. After graduating from the institute he started his professional music career. He took private lessons from Bob Weiner (drums and world percussion), Subratha Bhattacharia (Indian percussion), Osvaldo Hernandes (Latin and Bazilian percussion), Kurosh Bozorgpoor (oriental percussion), and famous Billy Cobham (drumset).

Eduard sees Peter Erskine, Zakir Hussain, Alex Acuna and Steve Gadd as his virtual teachers. Eduard collaborates and performs with various artists, bands and groups – Cirque Du Soleil, Armenian State Philharmonic Orchestra, Armenian State Big Band, "Yerevan" percussion ensemble, State Opera and Ballet Theatre, Armenian Children’s Music Theatre , "Barekamutiun" contemporary ballet ensemble, Gata Band, Miqael Voskayan & Friends Band, Time Report, as well as with a number of Armenian pop-stars.

Eduard has played with such world-famous musicians as Marc Johnson (USA), Kim Nazarian (USA), Armen Donelian (USA), Carlos Diaz (Argentina), June Anderson (USA), Bet Williams (USA), Iosiph Kobzon (Russia), Gevorg Dabaghyan (Armenia), Djivan Gasparian (Armenia), Steve Bach (USA) and by joining the ethnic-jazz band “Time Report” Eduard obtained the name of the best Armenian percussionist of the present days.

Eduard has participated in numerous international festivals. His playing technique was highly appreciated by Billy Cobham at the “GEOCELL” International Jazz Festival in Georgia in 2000. He plays well Oriental, Latin and Indian percussions, in different styles and ways, mixing these styles very easily, borrowing from each and blending them into his personal style. Listening to his playing, one can understand that he prefers the melody to technique.

Eduard Harutyunyan was the founder of children’s ethnic jazz sextet “Pokr Jazz”, the most popular among teenagers. And of course, it should be noted that for a long time he was the President of the Armenian Percussive Art Center and the President of the Armenian PAS Chapter.

He is not only a successful performer but also a good teacher. In 1998 he founded the percussive school “Rhythmica”. He is a frequent guest at various TV and Radio music shows. He is very active as a percussionist at numberous recording studios. Eduard has featured on many CDs and has worked with composers Alicia Terzian (Argentina), Atsuhiko Takenaka (Japan), Majid Enthezamy (Iran), Pierre Dominique Ponnelle (Germany), Violane Corradi (Canada), Alfred Kinzel (Switzerland), John Hodian(USA), Arthur Yeghikyan (USA).