BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 6. Within the framework of the international Baku Summer Jazz Days organized by Premier LTD agency with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Center, a concert of Georgian and French jazz musicians, as well as young Azerbaijani pianists was held, Trend reports.
The concert was held in the park of the Heydar Aliyev Center, where Georgian pianist, arranger, professor of Berklee College of Music Georgiy Mikadze performed together with musicians from France - Francois Moutin (double bass) and Rafael Pannier (percussion instruments), as well as young Azerbaijani musicians.
Students of the Child Art School No.2 named after Vagif Mustafazadeh – Isa Bagirov, Amina Safiguliyeva, Leyla Samadzade, Maryam Mammadova, Derya Huseynova and Omar Hasanli have performed in the event. The young musicians shared the stage with Honored Artists of Azerbaijan Vagif Aliyev (percussion instruments) and Ruslan Huseynov (bass guitar).
According to the young musicians, they were preparing for the concert program with great responsibility and are happy to perform within the framework of the "Baku Summer Jazz Days".
Graduate of the Child Art School No.2 named after Vagif Mustafazadeh Amina Safiguliyeva noted in an interview with Trend that the holding of the "Baku Summer Jazz Days" serves to promote jazz music.
"We were all seriously preparing for this concert in order to present our program flawlessly. After us, the audience heard the performance of famous musicians from Georgia and France, it is a great honor and happiness for me to perform with them as part of one musical evening. I want to note that performing jazz in the open air, seeing the beautiful building of the Heydar Aliyev Center opposite the stage gives great inspiration," the 13-year-old pianist said.
10-year–old pianist Omar Hasanli performed two works at the concert - "Caravan" by Duke Ellington and Hound Dog from the repertoire of Elvis Presley.
"Every performance is a great responsibility, because we represent a school that bears the name of the great Azerbaijani pianist, the founder of the musical direction of jazz-mugham Vagif Mustafazadeh. I love Azerbaijani music and the works of our composers. Thanks to such events as the Baku Summer Jazz Days, more listeners get acquainted with jazz music and the work of musicians from around the world," Omar Hasanli said.
It is not the first time that Maryam Mammadova, a student of the 7th grade of the art school, performs in front of a large audience.
"I presented one of my favorite works – "Dreaming Sheherezadeh" by Aziza Mustafazadeh. I get great pleasure performing this composition. It was also interesting for me to listen to the performance of Georgiy Mikadze and French musicians, this is a different musical culture. I learned a lot of new things, and this is always interesting," young pianist Maryam Mammadova said.
Students of the Child Art School No.2 named after Vagif Mustafazadeh demonstrated their talent, they performed compositions with inspiration, emotion and passion. The audience rewarded them with stormy applause.
Then there was an amazing performance by Georgian pianist, arranger, Professor of Berklee College of Music Georgiy Mikadze and French musicians. Jazz improvisations by famous Georgian composers were presented to the audience.
The concert in the Park of the Heydar Aliyev Center attracted the attention of Baku jazz fans and guests of еру city. The evening was filled with musical discoveries, the music that sounded inspired and gave vivid emotions to the listeners.
"It is a great honor for me to perform in Baku, which I have visited several times before. My friends live in Azerbaijan, but this is the first time I will be performing here. Azerbaijan has a great musical history associated with jazz, I want to mention the work of Vagif Mustafazadeh separately, his music has played an important role in my life too. At the concert, we performed works by Georgian composers, including Giya Kancheli, his music from the "Mimino" and "Kin-dza-dza!" films,” Georgiy Mikadze said.
Meanwhile, famous musicians from Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Georgia, Cuba, Israel, France and Russia perform within the framework of the fifth "Baku Summer Jazz Days" (July 3-7). Concert programs within the framework of the "Baku Summer Jazz Days" are organized both in halls and outdoor venues, which makes them accessible to a wider audience. This serves the main purpose of the "Baku Summer Jazz Days" - the wider promotion of jazz music.
On July 3, the Heydar Aliyev Center hosted the grand opening of the international "Baku Summer Jazz Days". Two concerts were presented. Turkish musicians to the stage - the famous guitarist Onder Focan, jazz singer Meltem Ege, as well as Senov Ulker (trumpet, flugelhorn), Bulut Gulen (trombone), Ozan Musluoglu (double bass) and Serkan Alagok (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).
On July 4, the Heydar Aliyev Center hosted an enchanting concert by the famous Cuban jazz pianist, Grammy Award nominee AlfredoRodríguez from the team of Quincy Jones as part of a world tour with a trio – Miguel Jiménez (bass guitar) and Michael Oliver (drums).
The jazz holiday will be finalized by the performance of the jazz orchestra named after Oleg Lundstrem on July 7. Having performed for the first time in Baku in 2019, the orchestra's team has since won the sympathy of our listeners, and will delight them with their work this time as well. The concert will take place in the park of the Heydar Aliyev Center.
Entrance to concerts in the park area is free.
Tickets for concerts in the auditorium can be purchased at the ticket offices of the city and on the iTicket.az website.
