azz pianist and composer Armen Donelian is revisiting his artistic roots this fall with the long-awaited reissue of his 1981 debut album Stargazer—a hidden gem that until now had only been available as a rare Japanese import. Sunnyside Records will release the newly remastered edition on October 3, just ahead of Donelian’s 75th birthday.
Originally recorded in April 1980, Stargazer captured the then 29-year-old Donelian in peak creative form alongside two jazz icons: bassist Eddie Gomez (of Bill Evans fame) and drummer Billy Hart (known for his work with Herbie Hancock). What resulted was a deeply expressive and dynamic piano trio album that showcased not only Donelian’s compositional skill but also his improvisational daring and deep musical communication with his bandmates.
“I’m not tied to the past,” says Donelian. “But I felt strongly this was a document that needed to be available.”
A Rediscovered Masterwork
From the lyrical grace of “Southern Belle” to the contemplative waltz of “Silent Afternoon,” Stargazer shines with a bold originality shaped by Donelian’s early tutelage under Richie Beirach, Mongo Santamaria, and Sonny Rollins. The title track opens the album with spirited interplay between the trio, and “Love’s Endless Spin” bursts with rhythmic joy and playful exploration.
One of the album’s standout moments is “Free at Last,” a free improvisation that feels almost sacred in its spontaneous unity. And the track “Monday,” introduced by a wake-up-call solo from Hart, moves into energetic territory, using complex counterpoint and bebop feel to blur the line between rhythm and melody—an approach Donelian continues to teach in his university ensemble classes today.
A Long-Lost Bonus
The reissue also unveils a previously unreleased track, “Queen of Light,” which didn’t make the original LP but was recorded during the same session. Built on a sultry groove from Hart, it finds Donelian and Gomez pushing bluesy motifs into cerebral twists—a fitting finale to a collection that now finally gets the wider audience it has long deserved.
A Legacy in Jazz and Education
Born in Queens in 1950 to Armenian immigrant parents, Donelian began piano studies at age 7 and discovered jazz at 12. After studying at Columbia University, his real-world education came through playing with legends like Chet Baker, Claudio Roditi, Billy Harper, and of course, Sonny Rollins. Over the decades, he’s released more than a dozen albums including the acclaimed Secrets (1988), Sayat-Nova: Songs of My Ancestors (2014), and Fresh Start (2022).
Beyond the stage and studio, Donelian has shaped generations of musicians through his teaching. He’s earned seven Fulbright awards, co-founded the Hudson Jazz Workshop, taught at the New School and William Paterson University, and authored essential pedagogical works including Training the Ear and Whole Notes: A Piano Masterclass.
Now, with Stargazer finally available worldwide, we’re gifted a chance to revisit the moment Donelian began his journey as a recording artist—a moment that sounds as timeless and inspired today as it did in 1980.
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