Jonathan - 8-12-2005 at 03:22 AM
I know that this is a long shot, but I am looking for any recordings by an oud player named Harry Minassian. He is still active on the east coast of
the US, but I know he recorded some LPs back in the day (1960s?) Does anybody happen to have these?
Thanks!
Amos - 8-12-2005 at 04:28 AM
Hi Jonathan,
I think the best person to talk to about this would be Peter Kyvelos...he knows everyone! I am fairly sure he knows Harry Minassian, and also Al
Bardezbanian counts Harry among his early influences, so he might know also (although we know what a challenge it is to get in touch with Al!)Peter is
always very generoud with information on the oud and oud players...I think you have Peter's number at Unique Strings in Belmont, right? If not, let me
know and I'll send it to you. Good luck!
Jonathan - 8-12-2005 at 06:08 AM
Harry stills plays, and I might go out to Hartford, CT this fall to see him play again--it has been several years since I have seen him. And, we have
some mutual contacts, so I guess I could get Harry's number, but I am really just looking for the old lps. I was talking to somebody about them
yesterday, and I know I have heard tapes of them, but I don't actually have the lps, or, for that matter, even recordings of them.
Amos - 8-12-2005 at 08:01 AM
Hi Jonathan,
that's what I meant....I think Peter might have an idea where to get some LP's from or at least copies...Good luck, Amos
Jonathan - 8-12-2005 at 08:04 AM
I will give it a try. Thanks.
Andy - 8-12-2005 at 05:23 PM
Jonathan, Harry played with Roger Krikorian down the Cape last Saturday. Didn't know about it till that day when I spoke to Leo Derderian. I recall
Peter Keyvelos mentioning to me years ago that Harry Minassian takes his ouds in to him for repairs. I think if you call ACME in Watertown, MA and ask
Gary Jr. he just may have an LP. Harry did 2 LP's one with Hachig on clarinet and Roger on dumbeg and another with Steve Vosbikian on clarinet these
were in the 70's. I bet there are a lot of live tapes of Harry from the Cape kefs and Hartford kefs. Harry is not only a great oud player but a great
singer.
Jonathan - 8-12-2005 at 06:04 PM
Thanks for the info, Andy. I am one of those that used to record him whenever I got a chance to hear him (at the Cape, or in Hartford). I might end
up going to the Hartford Kef this fall, and I figure I will ask there. I have done google searches, and could not find any details of the lps at all.
Yeah, a great singer and player. And, he does a lot of old songs that not many people are still playing.
Andy - 8-13-2005 at 06:37 PM
Jonathan I just found out that many were recording at the both events. If I am not too busy I might go to Hartford too. A couple of guys I know are
kind of pushing me to go. I went to one when they first began way back when and haven't gone since.