The wide appeal and unique style of Armand Boatman’s keyboard artistry can be explained only in part by his innate talent and years of intensive music education. Probably of equal importance is the fact that his background and varied experiences have expanded his sensitivity as well as his love of life and all living things. Armand’s family appreciated his talents from the time he was four years old and first played the piano. Although his early years were spent on a farm in Southeastern Washington, which necessitated his spending a great deal of time helping his father with the crops and farm animals, his mother insisted on his having the finest music teachers available.
Armand began playing professional engagements at the age of 12 with one thought in mind: the extra money would give him the opportunity to buy every jazz album he could find. In turn, he taught himself to play jazz. When he was 15, he received a scholarship for the University of Washington and formed his own trio with older musicians. Two years later came the Jazz Critics Award. He received his Bachelors Degree from Eastern Washington State University in 1960 and was immediately called to active duty in the U.S. Army, serving as a communications officer with the Signal Corps. After returning to civilian life, Armand was certified to teach in the public schools in Washington, which eventually led to his becoming director of music for the Richland Public School System and also working on advanced degrees in music.
In 1970, he felt he had to return to his primary interest: playing jazz to live audiences. Since that time, he has played supper clubs all along the West Coast, settling in Phoenix in 1973 for a lengthy affiliation with the DoubleTree Hotel chain. He has received accolades from, and shared honors with, many of the greats of jazz over the years. Although currently most of his engagements are with a bass player only, occasionally he organizes trios, big bands, concerts, or whatever is called for by the occasion; and he devotes much of his time to arranging, composing and teaching advanced harmony and theory to selected students. He has recently completed another project in a series of jazz CD’S.
Armand’s interests are varied. He is a sportsman, enjoying the outdoor life through hunting, skiing, fishing, boating, backpacking, and flying (he has a private pilot’s license), and also a student — of religion, philosophy, photography, and people. It is this love for, and understanding of, people that is projected through his music to audiences, and establishes almost immediate rapport. Here are a few of the musicians that Armand has had the honor working with. In 1963, Armand toured with Henry Mancini on an all West Coast tour. At the Double Tree Inn, he worked with Jack Sheldon, Kenny Burrell, Kai Winding, Don Ellis, Herb Ellis, Jimmy Witherspoon, Clark Terry, Blue Mitchell, Milt Jackson, Bobby Hackett, Cal Tjader, Buddy Collette and many more. Recently, Armand performed with Carl Saunders at “Jazz In The Hills”. Armand is the pianist with the newly formed Arizona Jazz Masterworks Orchestra. He had the honor accompanying Bobby Shew who was its guest artist doing a musical benefit for the Mesa Community College Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Fred Forney.
