by Paula EdelsteinPiano Nights is Armik's first-ever piano project. It is a deft treatment of ten original songs that spotlight his ability to devise amazing piano melodies to accompany his internationally renowned guitar virtuosity. The title track is a bossa nova that has the feeling of choreography by being both lyrical and catering to the dancing impulse."Flames of Passion" combines attributes of both the love song and the dance number. Armik layers the moods throughout this excellent set with beautiful solos and his flair for fusing emotional melodic fragments with intense rhythmic timing. With the addition of Joe Vannelli on pianos, Armik's music is taken to a new level of pleasure. This is a superb offering from one of the world's most gifted guitarists, who now presents the piano as a participant in his great music.