Epiphany Project Brings Unique World Sound to Watertown

Haunting is a word frequently used to describe the melodies that echo from the stage of an Epiphany Project performance. This musical trio combines piano and percussion with the ancient chanting and Armenian melodies of vocalist Bet Williams.

The band has spent much of the past seven years performing in Europe, but is currently touring the East Coast to promote their “Live in Germany” CD.  On Thursday, July 19, the group performs at the Arsenal Center.

Besides the four-octave range of Williams, Epiphany Project includes composer and pianist John Hodian and world music percussionist Mal Stein. While Hodian has worked in a wide variety of musical styles – from classical to jazz, rock to rap, and traditional to avant-garde theater – he describes the trio's music as a blend of ancient and modern cultures and styles, “but the earthy, sometimes trance-like rhythms and chant make it seem strangely familiar.”

While touring Europe, the trio has performed compositions that range from meditations on Einstein’s space/time continuum to obscure Zoroastrian prayers to the plight of Hodian’s ancestral Armenian homeland.

“I’ve always been a composer, my very first experiences at the piano involved making things up as opposed to re-creating the music of others,” Hodian says on the band's website. “And I’ve been really lucky in that I never had to do anything else but write music for a living.”

Epiphany project's unique world sound is just one of a variety of styles embraced by the Arsenal Center the past few months. Other performances have included Jazz, Folk, Rock, Opera, Chamber Music, and most recently, Flamenco.

“With two theatres – one intimate, one large – and our central location between Cambridge, Boston and the suburbs, we are perfectly suited to welcome diverse audiences by showcasing a variety of musical styles," says Executive Director Sharon Glennon. “It’s important to our mission for our audience to experience a range of artistic styles, so we're thrilled to have this opportunity to host more World Music this summer.”

The July 19th concert starts at 8 p.m. in the Arsenal Center’s Charles Mosesian Theater. Tickets are $18, plus fees, and may be purchased online or by calling the box office at 617-923-8487.  For more information, visit the Arsenal Arts website.