Ara Dinkjian is one of the world's leading oud players. Founder of the seminal 1980s band Night Ark with percussionist Arto Tuncboyacian, he has made five albums mixing jazz sensibility with Armenian and Middle Eastern folk.

His song Homecoming (Dinata Dinata) was performed by Eleftheria Arvanitaki at the closing ceremony of the Athens Olympics as well as being a hit for Turkish diva Sezen Aksu.

'Dinkjian shines as an instrumentalist, interpreting his own themes and then using them as improvisation vehicles... at times pensive, at times joyous celebration - carrying the listener away in the unique musical world of this Armenian in America.' Songlines