Air Apparent

“(Air Apparent) has improved drastically in the past two years…a performance that was the next best thing to an evening at the Hot Club of Paris.” (Harry Sumrall, Washington Post)

“You might not expect a violinist to be playing such numbers as “Giant Steps,” but Mr. Boyajian does so lovingly and with considerable élan.” (Tim Warren, Baltimore Sun)

Band Members:
Air Apparent features Armen Boyajian (violin), Stephen Gordon (piano/Fender Rhodes), Ron Brendle (bass) and Ocie Davis (drums). Armen Boyajian formed Air Apparent in Washington, DC as a jazz violinist and is also a jazz pianist. Armen has performed since 2008 in Charlotte (Sullivan’s, Johnson C. Smith and the Village Tavern) and previously in Augusta, GA, New York, Washington, and Baltimore with Branford Marsalis, Dennis Chambers, Wynton Marsalis, Wycliffe Gordon, Gary Thomas, and George Colligan. Air Apparent won the distinction of Best Jazz Band and Best Dance Band in Augusta Magazine’s Best Of poll and Armen’s original compositions have been recognized by the Washington Area Music Association.

Stephen Gordon is a professional touring percussionist/pianist who, for many years, has worked in the balanced regimen of bandleader, writing and arranging "compositional origins" for his quartets, quintets, chamber ensembles and various groups he has assembled over the years, as well as working humbly as a sideman with such a wide variety of greats, such as virtuoso trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, saxophonist Gerald Hayes, Skip Pearson, Irving Mayfield Jr., BMI Rock/Country artist Melissa Reaves, Hip-Hop sensations The Solos Unit, trumpeter Marlon Jordan, and drummer Troy Davis, among many others. Stephen states that every experience in life has set him on the path of mastery. Stephen teaches classical percussion and piano, as well as Theory and composition.

Ron Brendle has been the Charlotte region’s “go to” bassist since he moved there in 1981, and he has been recognized by Charlotte Magazine as “Best Bassist” and by Creative Loafing as “Jazz Artist of the Year.” Ron has won two NC Council for the Arts Jazz Composer Fellowship grants. Ron’s composition “Not Forgetting” was in the movie The Architect. He has played with Nneena Freelon, Andrew Hill, Clark Terry, Mose Allison and Frank Kimbrough (Air Apparent’s first pianist) and many others. For more information on him see www.ronbrendle.com.

Ocie Davis is one of the premier modern drummers in jazz today,” says legendary saxophonist, Donald Harrison. Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, rhythm was instilled in Ocie Davis at a very young age by his musician father. He studied with drum master and jazz legend Billy Higgins and at the encouragement of Wynton Marsalis, received his jazz degree at University of New Orleans, studying under Ellis Marsalis, Harold Batiste and Terence Blanchard. In the Crescent City and elsewhere Davis has worked with Aaron Neville, Nicholas Payton, Allen Toussaint, Dave Bartholomew, Ellis Marsalis, Terence Blanchard, Maurice Brown, Don Vappie and others.

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Armen Boyajian is a jazz violinist and pianist who moved to Charlotte in 2008. Armen studied at Eastman School of Music but his first experience as a jazz violinist and bandleader was in Washington, DC with the first incarnation of Air Apparent. Pianist Frank Kimbrough (Maria Schneider), bassist Ed Howard (Roy Haynes, Steve Wilson, Bob Berg) and drummer Steve Williams (Shirley Horn, Roy Hargrove) were members of that group, which played such Washington, DC venues as Blues Alley. In New York, bassist Stafford James, pianist Onaje Allan Gumbs, and bassist Curtis Lundy spent time with Air Apparent. Armen has played with Gary Thomas, Dennis Chambers, Wycliffe Gordon, Troy Conn, Elisa Pruett and Ron Brendle.

Ashlin Parker is a jazz trumpeter, performer and educator. He graduated from the NC School for the Arts and obtained his BM from Shenandoah University. Only 27, Ashlin has already won a Grammy for his work with Irvin Mayfield’s New Orleans Jazz Orchestra! He has played the North Sea Jazz Festival and performed with Jason & Delfeayo Marsalis, Sonny Fortune, and many others. He has also done considerable charity work including a tour with Comic Relief, benefit concerts for Habitat for Humanity and the Musicians Village in New Orleans. See http://www.ashlinparker.com for more on him.