I lost my dear friend Grigor Jinian on December 11th, 2003 after a long illness with heart trouble.  He was only 57 years old when his heart just couldn’t go anymore.  I’m very sad, I’ll miss him and love him always.

As well as my friend he was like a father to me.  I’ll always be grateful for the love he gave me, and the many, many good times we spent together.

Grigor was one of the most brilliant musicians I’ve ever met in my life, and it was always an honor to be in his presence, so many felt that way.  Anyone who ever heard him play was instantly swept along with the fire and passion that blazed from his violin.  He could make an entire audience weep with emotion, or take them to the moon with the most fiery Gypsy music they’d ever heard in their lifetime.

A classically trained violinist from Yerevan, Armenia, Grigor was known throughout Europe, the Middle East and the United states from his concerts and recordings.  He spent many years living in California, playing concerts throughout the West Coast, as well as many engagements in Las Vegas.

Music was like clay to him, and he could shape it into anything he wanted, like a master sculptor.  Hearing him play with a melody was incredible.  I remember we used to play around with the tune Caravan and Grigor would play it in 7/8 time, it was amazing what he could do and it sounded so good!  I don’t think there wasn’t anything he could not play - Rhumba, Gypsy, Beethoven or Bach, even Country music and Jazz, he could do it all.

He was so good, that when you’d play with him it would be like trying to hold onto a rocket as it took off.  You’d have mixed feelings of being scared, like it was way above your head, and the feeling of being blessed that you had the amazement and privilege to warm yourself next to a musician of his level; it was like being next to the sun.  He would always say to us, “Don’t be scared, just play.”  He would show any of us anything we wanted to know or learn.  You’d always feel great when you played something he liked, and he’d nod to you and quietly say to you “Bravo.”

He loved to play and he loved to see people who loved to play music.  Sometimes he would come to listen to my bands practice, just to listen.  I was happy to see him enjoying the music.

More than anything, his love and friendship meant the world to me.  I’ll miss his eyes, I’ll miss his voice, I’ll miss making him laugh, I’ll miss hearing his stories and I’ll miss hearing him sing me Armenian songs that I love so much.

My heart goes out to his beloved and dear wife Vardui, and those whose lives he touched with his incredible spirit.

Grigor, my dearest buddy, I love you with all of my heart . . .

Khaghaghutyun (Peace)