Element Band

LOS ANGELES—Los Angeles-based Element Band are set to headline the Ford Amphitheatre on Sunday, June 6 at 7:30 p.m. This show will mark the fourth time this eclectic, eight-member ensemble has played this landmark venue.

Embodying the essence of World Music, Element Band sings in ten different languages (English, French, Spanish, Italian, Greek, Armenian, Arabic, Persian [Farsi], Bulgarian and Portuguese), and features a fusion of music from around the globe. From sweet ballads to up-tempo tunes that compel music lovers of all ages to dance in the aisles, there’s something for everyone at an Element Band Live show.

Element Band plays both original compositions and new arrangements of old classics. Always mindful of traditions, Element Band strives to capture the soul and essence of the original piece while adding their personal flair and style. Many members of the band are multi-instrumentalists allowing them to maintain the music’s authenticity by using instruments from the country of origin. However, their virtuosity also allows them to explore all types of music without boundaries or limitations.

Surprise special guests are always a part of an Element Band Live show. Last summer at the Ford Amphitheatre, Mike McCarry of Boyz II Men joined in as well as the North Hollywood Baptist Choir. This year is no exception with Italian vocalist Giovanna Gatusso set to join in, vocalist Vahe Karapetyan opening, and additional surprise guests to be announced. - Asbarez Daily Newspaper

Having listened to Element Band’s music—best described as a fusion of Armenian folk, Mediterranean, and Latin music, with a hint of Flamenco, Tango, and Rembetika sounds—over the past couple of years, I finally had the opportunity to see them perform live last month in Englewood, N.J. This performance marked their first East Coast tour, which included stops in Boston and Washington, D.C., for a cultural event organized by Hamazkayin Eastern USA to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Armenia.

Founded in 2005 by musical director and composer Ara Dabandjian, the group has made waves on the world music scene during its brief history. The band has certainly made a name for itself, having performed in such high-profile venues as Los Angeles’s Ford Amphitheatre and the Skirball Cultural Center, as part of their acclaimed Sunset Concerts series. Their multilingual repertoire ranges from Spanish and French to Arabic, Persian, Portuguese, English, and Armenian.

The band also provides young people with a sense of cultural responsibility. The fact that the members of Element Band, motivated solely by their connection and dedication to their Armenian roots, took the time to learn these Armenian folk songs and put their own unique stamp on it, awakens us to do our own part in preserving our rich heritage.

But to say that Element Band has succeeded only in preserving traditional Armenian music would be selling them short and missing the point of the broader context of the group’s existence. While their first album featured only traditional Armenian music, their second, “Oo” (2009), incorporated international hits as well, including the famous Persian love song “Soltane Ghalba”(King of Hearts), the traditional Spanish Christmas carol “Los Peces” (The Fishes in the River), and the Greek folk song “Oso Varoon” (As the Iron Bars Clash). Opening themselves up to the rest of the world helped expose Armenian culture to a wider audience.
- The Armenian Weekly