George Mgrdichian

George Mgrdichian was American jazz's premier proponent of the oud, the pear-shaped lute most common in Middle Eastern folk music. Born and raised in New York City, Mgrdichian was a largely self-taught musician who first took up the clarinet, joining a traditional Armenian band while in his teens. When the group's oud player was drafted into military service, Mgrdichian was forced to learn the instrument in a matter of days. He nevertheless studied clarinet at the Juilliard School of Music, but majored in ethnomusicology while attending Wesleyan University. Upon settling in Ph...