ARMENIAN NAVY BAND The Armenian Navy Band was founded by the percussionist/vocalist of Armenian descent, Arto Tunçboyacıyan. Arto likes to describe The Armenian Navy Band as 'avant garde music from Armenia' which suggests something of the band but is a little limiting. The band have a strong jazz influence and to this they bring in all manner of folkloric instrumentation so building an organic creation that, well, swings. Along with others of the Armenian diaspora, Arto Tuncboyaciyan grew up on the outskirts of Istanbul.