Yessaï Karapetian is a performer & multi-instrumentalist with an ambitiously wide approach to contemporary jazz. After graduating from the Conservatoire de Paris in 2019, he received a full tuition scholarship to Berklee College of Music, where he earned a Master’s degree of Music in Contemporary Performance (Global Jazz Institute) ten months later. Under the watchful eye of musical mentors such as Danilo Perez, Terri Lyne Carrington, Joe Lovano or John Patitucci, the pianist won two DownBeat Student Music Awards – for Best Jazz Soloist and Best Original Composition – as well as the LetterOne RISING STAR Jazz Award 2021 awarded by Marcus Miller, out of more than 750 artists worldwide. In 2022, after winning the Jazz à la Défense Competition in Paris, Armenian French bandleader created a quintet to cut “YESSAÏ”, released on Kyudo Records. He toured this record in Europe and North America, opening twice for Herbie Hancock. He then became the laureate of Talent Adami Jazz 2023 allowing him to create a new band featuring Marc Karapetian and his mentor Terri Lyne Carrington. That year also saw the release of his second album “Ker u Sus”, which earned him a nomination at French “Victoires de la Musique” for Best New Artist. In 2024, Yessaï is set to join Tigran Hamasyan’s new quintet featuring Matt Garstka (Animals As Leaders), Marc Karapetian and Areni Agbabian to perform the pianist’s new album and spectacular show “The Bird of a Thousand Voices” all over the world.