FRANCE/Azerbaijan: Emil Afrasiyab headlines the Festival Jazz à Saint-Germain-des-Prés

Leading Azerbaijani jazz pianist Emil Afrasiyab wowed jazz fans and critics alike with his barnstorming performance at this year's Festival Jazz à Saint-Germain-des-Prés. His appearance was sponsored by the French office of The European Azerbaijan Society (TEAS).

Paris, France (PRWEB UK)

Leading Azerbaijani jazz pianist Emil Afrasiyab has dazzled 380 jazz aficionados in Paris with his dexterity and innovation on the second night of the prestigious 15th Festival Jazz à Saint-Germain-des-Prés. On 29 May, the audience included H.E. Elchin Amirbayov, Azerbaijani Ambassador to France; bass guitarist Kyle Eastwood, son of legendary film star Clint; author Michel Contat, a leading literary and jazz critic; and Alain Kassimatis, the renowned jazz producer. The French office of The European Azerbaijan Society (TEAS) sponsored the concert, having done so at the previous edition of the festival, when the spotlight was directed towards pianist Isfar Sarabski.
Born in Baku in 1982, Emil is a major artist amongst the new generation of Azerbaijani jazz performers. He specialises in the synthesis of jazz with Azerbaijani mugham, both of which feature a high degree of improvisation and provide great scope for personal expression. His work is notable for its contrasts in intonation, and fluctuating harmonics and rhythms, more commonly found in classical music.
The set began with Emil’s self-penned 'Two Worlds'. After a delicate and rhapsodic solo introduction, Emil increased the tempo, running up and down the piano keyboard, his music incorporating the Eastern harmonies and microtones found in mugham, being carried along by the propulsive polyrhythmic drumming of Raphaël Pannier. The improvisations even included a brief nod to J.S. Bach and his 'Air on the G String'.
This was followed by a version of Azerbaijani jazz-mugham pioneer Vagif Mustafzadeh’s 'March', which included Alexandre Madeline on tenor saxophone. This began with Emil’s rhapsodic introduction, after which Coltrane disciple Alexandre gave an exploration of the main theme prior to its deconstruction. Emil and Raphaël then took up the challenge, daring each other on to more tangential improvisations. Emil held the transfixed audience in reverent silence following his delicate conclusion to the piece.
Emil then performed 'Aziza', his own composition, dedicated to Vagif Mustafazadeh’s daughter of the same name, who is renowned as a jazz singer/pianist in her own right. The tempo of this piece gradually speeded to dizzying levels, and provided Raphaël with the chance to demonstrate his full range of percussive techniques. Emil regards all musicians in his quartet as equals, his piano remaining silent as Raphaël and bass guitarist Antoine Katz coaxed each other into new, unchartered waters of improvisation. Emil then returned, upping the tempo to an exciting and devastating level. As he wiped the perspiration from his brow, the rapturous audience shouted “Bravo”, hoping for another piece.
They were rewarded with variations on the main theme of the Azerbaijani traditional dance 'Shalakho', written in the challenging time signature of 6/8. This saw Alexandre’s saxophone take on the role of the traditional balaban flute, before wildly entering the realms of free jazz and call-and-response dialogue with the percussion of Raphaël.
Initially, Emil’s pianistic skills were solely heard in the borders of his home country. However, this changed in 2011, when he received the Public Prize at the Montreux Jazz Festival, and in 2012 he went to study performance and composition at the Berklee College of Music in the US, where he now resides.
The second half of the concert comprised a performance by the septuagenarian jazz-rock pioneer Aldo Romano and the other members of his trio.
The concert came in the middle of a three-date French festival tour by Emil’s quartet that began on 27 May with a performance at the inaugural Sunnyside Festival in Reims, attended by around 150 people, including Pascal Labelle, Deputy Mayor of Reims in charge of Culture and Ayaz Gojayev, Cultural Advisor to the Azerbaijani Embassy in France. The tour will conclude on 7 September with the opening concert of the Colmar Jazz Festival. TEAS France is sponsoring Emil’s participation in all three festivals.
To see and hear Emil performing Aziza at the 2013 Baku International Jazz Festival, go to http://bit.ly/emilaziza.

Isfar Sarabski - Azerbaijan's young virtuoso to give concert in Cannes

Azerbaijan's talented pianist Isfar Sarabski is set to give concert at Midem Festival in Cannes on February 1-4.
A musical band would accompany the winner of the 43rd Montreux Jazz Competition in the concert. It would be held with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. The band, including Isfar Sarabski on piano, Makar Novikov on double bass, Alexander Mashin on drums, Shahriyar Imanov on tar and ud, Umida Abasova and Osman Eyyublu on violin, Ilgar Rzayev on viola and Aleksey Miltikh on cello, will perform in Majestic Hotel's Diane salon on February 2.
Isfar Sarabski, who began playing the piano at the age of seven studied classic piano for eleven years at the Bulbul Music School. He graduated from Baku Music Academy. His early influences included Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie, while Keith Jarrett, Brad Mehldau, Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson, and the central figure of Azerbaijani jazz Vagif Mustafazadeh have inspired Sarabski to compose his own music. AzerNews.

Baku Jazz Festival 2013

During the Festival at the Palace named after Heydar Aliyev, the International Mugham Center and at the Baku Jazz Center expected performances by the world-renowned musicians - Joshua Redman, Kenny Garrett, Avishai Cohen, Marcus Miller, Christoph Cech and others.
With the solo program will perform Azerbaijani musicians - Salman Gambarov, Emil Afrasiyab, Mirjavad Jafarov and others.
All admirers of jazz music will have great music holiday.
http://jazzcenter.jazz.az

Various artists-Oriental Blues (Network Medien / Membran Media 2013)

With the success of the three anthologies of „Desert Blues“ ("Ambiances du Sahara", "Rêves D'Oasis" "Entre Dunes et Savanes"), “Oriental Blues” mission is to compile music from diverse countries of the Orient. The focus is on ballads and – as unusual the term may seem in this context – on Blues. These songs chosen are of great emotional depth evoking an aura similar to this American music tradition.
From the bazars of Istanbul, the oasis of Tunisia to and the endless mountain-scape near the Caspian Sea, the music of this region incorporates the most beautiful voices and the most delicate arrangements. Network Medien

01. Iness Mezel - Ata Woulniss (06:01)
02. Aziz Sahmaoui - Maktoube (03:50)
03. Karima Nayt - Keyf (04:45)
04. Abaji - Gibran (04:17)
05. Natacha Atlas - Lammebada (07:07)
06. Miguel Gil - Adieu Paure Carnavas (06:16)
07. Burhan Ocal & Istanbul Oriental Ensemble - Nihavent Oriental (04:08)
08. Sevda Alekperzadeh - Ele Deme (05:53)
09. Abdeli - Tharguith (05:16)
10. Amine & Hamza - Ya Nari (04:27)
11. Alizadeh & Djivan Gasparyan - Sari Gallin - Sari Aghchick (06:19)
12. Dhafer Youssef - Al-Hallaj (03:16)
13. Salto Orientale - Kegome (07:04)
14. Orchestre National De Barbes - Na Bi Na (02:44)

Acclaimed Azerbaijani Jazz Sensation Isfar Sarabski Captivates Berlin Audiences in Concerts Co-sponsored by The European Azerbaijan Society

The 23-year-old Azerbaijani jazz pianist Isfar Sarabski has given two remarkable concerts in Berlin, co-sponsored by The European Azerbaijan Society.

Azerbaijani piano star Isfar Sarabski, aged 23, gave two barnstorming concerts in Berlin on 13 and 15 December, the first of which was for jazz fans from the world of politics, sponsored by The European Azerbaijan Society (TEAS), the second being for listeners of JazzRadio Berlin. The concerts came hot on the heels of his performance at the annual Jazz Loft Party in New York, organised by the Jazz Foundation of America, co-hosted by Danny Glover, where he shared the bill with such jazz legends as Lou Donaldson, Junior Mance and Randy Weston. He also recently gave a remarkable concert at the Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Hall in Baku during the annual Baku International Jazz Festival.
The first concert, 'Winter Jazz and Politics', was given close to Checkpoint Charlie at Kunztschule, one of Berlin’s most recently-opened event locations. Located in the former Michaelsen Palais, constructed in 1904, this was attended by around 300 people. Isfar Sarabski, who won the Montreux Solo Jazz Piano Prize in 2009, performed for nearly two hours, accompanied by Makar Novikov (bass) and Aleksandr Mashin (drums). The concert focused on Sarabski’s own compositions, including 'New Age', 'Novruz', which featured the microtones found in Azerbaijani mugham music, and the remarkable funky 'G-Man'. Other pieces included his delicate interpretation of Harold Arlen’s 'Over the Rainbow', an inspired arrangement of themes from Tchaikovsky’s 'Swan Lake', featuring Mashin’s ecstatic drumming, and Victor Young’s serene 'Beautiful Love'.

During the introduction Leslie Nachmann, Chief Presenter, JazzRadio Berlin, said: “Isfar’s playing is more than just music – his performances are a landmark event for listeners. He was a worthy winner of the Montreux Solo Jazz Piano Prize in 2009, and we are proud to have him as a guest of TEAS and JazzRadio Berlin.”

The second concert was given in the 1920s Ellington Hotel for an extremely appreciative audience of around 120 listeners to JazzRadio Berlin. Sabina Rakcheyeva, Cultural Advisor, TEAS commented: “Isfar Sarabski is one of the youngest, yet most well-known jazz musicians in Azerbaijan. During the past three years, his concerts in Berlin have been very successful. Isfar has now performed on many European stages and at various jazz festivals to wide acclaim.” Isfar’s trio was clearly inspired by the audience, particularly with his rhapsodic conclusion to 'G-Man', and the breathtaking speed of 'Buta', another of his compositions. His version of the romantic 'Oblivion', by Argentinian composer Astor Piazzolla, provided Isfar with the opportunity to demonstrate another side of his skills. The concert concluded with a standing ovation, followed by an encore of his blues-influenced 'Insurance Salesman', which became increasingly frenetic and exciting.

Both concerts gave ample opportunities for Isfar and his trio to demonstrate their formidable abilities in one of the leading European jazz capitals.
Berlin, Germany (PRWEB UK) 17 December 2012

AMINA FIGAROVA - Twelve (In and Out, 2011)

Composer and pianist Amina Figarova's 12th album,
titled Twelve - her debut release on the renowned
independent German label In + Out - celebrates jazz is an
international music and New York City as a locale where
jazz gypsies may feel most at home. A suite of songs for
sextet Figarova wrote swiftly in 2011 after moving with
her husband and musical partner, flutist Bart Platteau, to Forest Hills, Queens from their longtime European base, Twelve is suffused with the heightened expectations, sense of adventure and fresh erceptions that voluntary
emigrés enjoy, as well as the confidence, creative energies
and nuanced fulfillment that artists gain from being in the
right place at the right time.
Amina was born and raised in Baku, Azerbaijan, Bart is from Belgium, and together they are citizens of the world. They've toured extensively, developing a
tight-knit ensemble that, despite inevitable personnel
changes, has attained a distinctive and inimitable voice by concentrating on all-original repertoire for almost 18 years. 
In and Out Records

USA: Awards for Camp Unity, the documentary by Ryan While about American Voice's YES Academy program in Iraq

American Voices

Jazz - Mugham Bridges, Live in Baku(2006)
Dueling accordions, fiery mugham; traditional music of Azerbaijan, with amazing jazz fusion by Mike Del Ferro and Stian Carstensen.
CD Baby

More Awards and Montreal Film Fest Debut for Camp Unity
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Camp Unity pulls in big crowds, good reviews and more awards at Philadelphia and Montreal Film Festivals
Camp Unity, the documentary by Ryan While about American Voice's YES Academy program in Iraq, has garnered the Silver award for best documentary at the Philadelphia International Film festival and won excellent reviews at the Montreal International Film Festival. Reviewer Sandy Mandelberger wrote: "

"Ryan White, a California-based freelance director with some short documentaries to his credit, makes an impressive feature debut here in the story of a group of American music, theater and dance artists who offer a unique immersion program in arts development for Iraqi young people. American Voices is a not-for-profit organization that organizes a group of music and dance instructors to come to the Kurdistan province in northern Iraq to meet with and train young Iraqi hopefuls. The film captures this diverse group of young Iraqi performing arts students whose cultural and religious mix (Kurdish, Arab, Moslem, Christian) reflects the diversity of the country itself. The first section of the film portrays the hopes and dreams of these young people, all scarred by their war experiences, to be the ones chosen to participate in an intensive dance and music workshop." AMERICAN VOICES

AZERBAIJAN: Azerbaijani pianist Shahin Novrasli plays in French jazz festival

Shahin Novrasli has performed at the Jazz en Ouche 2011 festival in Lower Normandy.

He appeared together with a five-piece band, including his brother tar player Arslan Novrasli and kamancha player Elshan Mansurov.

Their performance of jazz mugam went down well with the audience.

The deputy mayor of L'Aigle responsible for culture, Serge Delavallee, said he would like to hear Azerbaijani musicians in France again. Talks on this are already under way.

The festival, held for the third time, ran from 22 to 27 November. It featured Chicago Blues, Rhoda Scott, Thomas Dutronc and other jazz stars.

Azerbaijan took part in the festival as part of the cooperation between the Azerbaijani embassy in France and the the mayor’s office of L'Aigle which is twinned with Naftalan in Azerbaijan.

1news.az

AZERBAIJAN: Azerbaijani jazzman performs in State Philharmonic Hall

Jazz pianist, recipient of Presidential scholarship Isfar Sarabski gave a concert in Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Hall named after Muslum Magomayev.

The concert took place within the framework of the annual International Jazz Festival program organized by Azerbaijan Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Culture Fund and “Sweet Production” company.

Sarabski was accompanied by Makar Novikov at bass and Alexander Mashin at drums.

Isfar Rzayev (born November 2, 1989, Baku), better known as Isfar Sarabski, is an Azerbaijani jazz pianist. He is the great-grandson of opera singer Huseyngulu Sarabski.

He began playing the piano at the age of seven. He studied classic piano for eleven years at the Bulbul Music School.

Sarabski has performed at Baku Caspian Jazz and Blues Festival in Azerbaijan several times, participated in the annual Sildajazz festival in Norway, as well as at the International Jazz Festival in Russia.

He has also been awarded at Stars of Issyk-kul; New names of Russia International Classical and National Music Festival in Kyrgyzstan in 2004. Early influences included Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie. His favourite performers Keith Jarrett, Brad Mehldau, Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson, and Vagif Mustafazadeh have inspired him to compose his own pieces.

On July 18, 2009 Isfar became a winner at the 43rd Jazz Festival held in Montreux, Switzerland.

news.az