Garo Tavitjan, world-known jazz musician of Armenian descent, told Armenian News – NEWS.am about the philosophy and musical ideology of their band “Tavitjan brothers”.  In April 2015, Diran and Garo Tavitjans, who live in Macedonia, visited Armenia for the second time to take part in a concert dedicated to the International Jazz Day.

According to Garo, if you write good music and have good education, success is still not guaranteed. “The fact that you write good music, sing well, have wonderful tactics and wonderful education, still doesn’t guarantee success. The important thing is the luck, but even more important are the spiritual values. That is, you can be lucky and rich, but have no spiritual wealth,” the musician said.

Material tings have no significance for him: houses and cars are not important. “You are a tool in the God’s hands and must convey the message. Good musician is the one who conveys this message,” Garo Tavitjan said.

The goal of the Tavitjan brothers is to inspire the young generation, give it a positive impetus, convey spiritual values, since, according to him, part of the young generation has taken a wrong path. “We travel a lot and see many negative phenomena. We wish to help people, inspire them with our music, make them want to live. And you are a good musician if you understand what I’m speaking about,” he said.  

In Tavitjan’s words, to achieve success, musicians must first of all trust themselves and work.  “It must be kept in mind that the spectators don’t pay for your playing: they pay for the time of the musician, for his transportation, but don’t pay for the music and message. One can establish wonderful musical schools, but achieve no success in the given musical direction, since the message is different. The Armenians are lucky with this respect: thy know how to present good music,” he said.    

The band is trying to make the world a better place. In this context, the royalties give them an opportunity to obtain musical instruments to bring home the message: thus the money serves the art. The musician confessed that living by this philosophy is, of course, difficult: it may take years, but it’s necessary to struggle, Tavitjan said.  

Material things don’t make him happy. In the musician’s words, you can have a lot of money, but not be happy. And their music is about the necessity to value the spiritual.

“Happiness is when your parents are healthy, your loving friends are nearby, there is someone who loves and takes care of you. Happiness is when you are a talented musician, journalist, painter, etc.  I think in order to be happy one must be sure that the life is good despite of what has been stored for you,” the musician said.

Tavijan brothers are world-famous jazzmen. They have been awarded the title “Musical Ambassadors of Macedonian Music”and are also the award winners of the British SONY JAZZ competition.