BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 5. The Heydar Aliyev Center hosted an enchanting concert by famous Cuban jazzman Alfredo Rodríguez within the framework of the international "Baku Summer Jazz Days" organized by Premier LTD agency with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Center, Trend reports.
Famous artists from Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Georgia, Cuba, Israel, France and Russia perform within the framework of the fifth "Baku Summer Jazz Days" (July 3-7). The festival takes place both in various cultural centers and in outdoor venues, which makes them accessible to a wider audience. And this serves the main purpose of the festival - the wider promotion of jazz music.
A real gift for jazz lovers this evening was the performance in Baku of famous Cuban jazz pianist, Grammy Award nominee Alfredo Rodríguez from the team of Quincy Jones as part of a world tour with a trio – Miguel Jiménez (bass guitar) and Michael Oliver (drums).
The bright concert program gave jazz lovers a wonderful musical evening with original compositions and dynamic improvisations.
Rodríguez noted in an interview with Trend that he came to Azerbaijan for the first time and expressed admiration for the Heydar Aliyev Center.
"We are glad to perform at the fifth “Baku Summer Jazz Days”, which is one of the brightest events in my creative life. I want to emphasize that nowhere in the world have I seen such a grandiose structure as the Heydar Aliyev Center, and it is a great honor for us to perform on this stage. Music brings peoples and countries closer together, especially when it comes from the heart and gives people positive emotions, happiness and harmony," Rodríguez said.
“I reflect my thoughts, various feelings, aspirations and dreams in my music, which I try to share with people. This is a kind of heart-to-heart conversation with people close to me, when everyone tries to share their inner world, give a piece of their soul to the world around them," he added.
The Heydar Aliyev Center hosted the grand opening of the international "Baku Summer Jazz Days" on July 4, and two concerts were presented.
Turkish musicians - famous guitarist Onder Focan, jazz singer Meltem Ege, as well as Shenov Ulker (trumpet, flügelhorn), Bulut Gulen (trombone), Ozan Musluoglu (double bass) and Serkan Alagek (drums) performed accompanied by the Baku Chamber Orchestra.
Then famous pianist, laureate of international competitions, Honored Artist of Azerbaijan Elchin Shirinov performed with Israeli colleagues – Amir Bresler (drums), Oren Hardy (double bass) and Gilad Hekselman (guitar).
Famous Georgian pianist, arranger, professor of Berklee College of Music Giorgi Mikadze, together with musicians from France - Francois Moutin and Raphael Pannier - will perform jazz improvisations by famous Georgian composers in the park of the Heydar Aliyev Center On July 5.
The final chord of the jazz festival will be at the performance of the Oleg Lundstrem Jazz Orchestra on July 7. Having performed in Baku for the first time in 2019, the band has won the sympathy of Azerbaijani listeners, and will delight them with their creativity this time too.
The concert will be held in the park of the Heydar Aliyev Center.
Entrance to concerts in the park area is free.
