Vahagn Stepanyan is an Armenian music producer, music arranger, songwriter, film/TV composer, and musician whose genres have been classified as jazz, R&B, funk, fusion, pop, gospel, and film score music. His album, A New Chapter, charted at #5 on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz Charts and at #19 on Billboard's Jazz Charts.[1][2][3] He has shared the stage with such artists as Sheila E. and has collaborated with Ricky Kej, Kitt Wakeley, Nathan East, Eric Marienthal, Henrik Linder, Mark Lettieri, Greg Howe, Dave Koz, Mark Lettieri, Arun Shenoy, and Adam Hawley, among others.[4][5][6]
Vahagn Stepanyan | |
|---|---|
| Born | Vahagn Stepanyan July 10, 1985 |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2014 – present |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Website | vahagnstepanyan |
Career edit
Stepanyan is a classically trained keyboard player, songwriter, composer, arranger, and producer. He began playing piano when he was 10 years old and later performed in jazz clubs and wrote songs for Armenian artists. He relocated to Los Angeles to pursue a music career.[7] His single, Motion, was nominated for a Hollywood Independent Music Award in the Jazz (Fusion/Bebop) category as well as being nominated for Musician of the Year by the Josie Music Awards.[8]
Vahagn released his first album, Moonlight, in 2015, which received favorable reviews.[9][10] His sophomore release, A New Chapter, charted at #5 on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz Charts and at #19 on Billboard's Jazz Charts and received favorable reviews.[1][2][5] The album features Dave Koz and is co-produced by Stepanyan and Kitt Wakeley.[11]
He composed and arranged the music for Armenian documentaries, The Glance of Ararat, and The Faces of War[12] as well as providing additional engineering and keyboards on Kitt Wakeley's Grammy-winning album, An Adoption Story.[13] He was featured on the single, Gravity, with The Groove Project, which includes musicians Arun Shenoy, Lonnie Park, and Matthew Shell, among others.[14]
Stepanyan performed on the Hope Anthology Project, whose proceeds went to the GMA Foundation’s Disaster Assistance Fund, which financially aided musicians, stage Hands, and crew that were affected by COVID-19. The project featured Mary J. Blige, Maranda Curtis, Fred Hammond, and Percy Bady, among others.[15] In 2023, he performed live at the NAMM Show.[16]
Awards edit
| Year | Nominated Work | Category | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | A New Chapter | Best Album/Best Instrumental Album | Global Music Awards[17] | Won |
| 2023 | Motion | Jazz (Fusion/Bebop) | Hollywood Independent Music Awards[18] | Won |
| 2023 | Vahagn Stepanyan | Musician of the Year (Piano/Keys) | Josie Music Awards[8] | Nominated |
| 2022 | Motion | Best Jazz Song/Grand Prize | Akademia Awards[19] | Won |
| 2021 | Motion | Silver Medal (Jazz Fusion) | Global Music Awards[20] | Won |
External links edit
References edit
- ^ a b "Billboard Contemporary Jazz Charts - A New Chapter". Billboard. May 31, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- ^ a b "Billboard Charts - Jazz Albums - A New Chapter". Billboard. May 31, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- ^ "The Groove Project featuring Vahagn Stepanyan – "Dreams" by Bob Smith". Static Dive. April 15, 2020. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
- ^ "Meet Vahagn Stepanyan". Canvas Rebel. November 29, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
- ^ a b "Vahagn Stepanyan Album 'A New Chapter' Out May 19". Jazz Hall. May 5, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
- ^ "Vahagn Stepanyan" (PDF). Something Else Reviews. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
- ^ "The Pulse of Entertainment: Jazz Keyboardist Vahagn Stepanyan Releases 'A New Chapter'". Eur Web. June 3, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
- ^ a b "The Official 9Th Annual 2023 Josie Music Awards Nominees". Josie Music Awards. May 15, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
- ^ "Star Portrait - Vahagn Stepanyan by Hans-Bernd Hulsmann". Smooth Jazz. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
- ^ "Vahagn Stepanyan – Moonlight (2015) by Preston Frazier". Something Else Reviews. April 7, 2015. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
- ^ "Vahagn Stepanyan - Synergy feat. Dave Koz". Film Freeway. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
- ^ "The Glance of Ararat". Aravot. October 18, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
- ^ "An Adoption Story - Album Credits/Liner Notes & Thank You - Grammy Winning Album". Kitt Wakeley. March 24, 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
- ^ "The Groove Project – Gravity (feat. Vahagn Stepanyan on Piano) by Stephen Vicino". Music Existence. March 3, 2020. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
- ^ "United Alliance Music Group / New Day / Sony / The Orchard to Release 11-Track, The Hope Anthology Project Friday, August 28". Gospel Music Association. August 19, 2020. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
- ^ "Nord at NAMM 2023: Vahagn Stepanyan". Nord Keyboards. April 28, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
- ^ "Global Music Award Winners". Global Music Awards. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
- ^ "HIMA Winners 2023". Hollywood Independent Music Awards. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
- ^ "Conversations with Vahagn Stepanyan". Voyage LA Magazine. March 8, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
- ^ "Global Music Award Winners 2021". Global Music Awards. Retrieved June 7, 2023.