Serj Tankian Announces Two New Albums Orca and Jazz-iz Christ, Set For June & July 2013 Release

System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian will be releasing his own symphonic album in June, followed by a collaborative jazz release in July.

Tankian began the first of these projects, Orca, with a kickstarter campaign that funded the composition and recording of his piece with the Das Karussell Ensemble at the Brucknerhaus in Linz, Austria last October. Conductor Werner Steinmetz led the ensemble through Orca’s four acts, and the beautiful arrangement is captured on the new album, set for release June 25.

The second of Tankian’s summer albums, Jazz-iz Christ, combined the efforts of such celebrated musicians as Stewart Copeland and pianist Tigran Hamasyan, and will be released July 23. Featuring mostly instrumental tracks, Jazz-iz Christ is said to comprise that of progressive jazz, rock and electronic grooves.

Both of these albums will be available through iTunes, Amazon and others, as well as Tankian’s website; pre-orders for Orca begin May 1, and Jazz-iz Christ on May 15. There will be several orchestral tour dates for Tankian and Orca in Europe this fall, where he will also be delivering songs from his 2010 release Elect The Dead Symphony.