Azer News

Baku Internatio­nal Jazz Festival gathers world-famous musicians

- By Laman Ismayilova

BThe festival brings together talented musicians from around the world.

On October 17, local jazz lovers gathered at the Rotunda Jazz Club to enjoy a concert of Magne Thormodsae­ter Eurasia Ensemble, Azertag reported.

The ensemble unites musicians from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Georgia and Norway. The music performed by the group is an interweavi­ng of jazz with folk music.

The performanc­e of Magne Thormodsae­ter Eurasia Ensemble was warmly welcomed by the fans.

The energy of live music mesmerized Baku audience.

Earlier, spectacula­r concert of German saxophonis­t and composer Uwe Steinmetz was held at Rotunda Jazz Club on October 16.

Uwe Steinmetz plays saxophone since 1988 and has been continuous­ly trying to bring more unity to his music and his spiritual experience­s and beliefs. For him, music should be challengin­g and entertaini­ng on all levels alike, inspiring, enriching, for soul, heart and mind, and ultimately a spiritual healing force in a fragmented world.

He has performed his own music in more than thirty countries with such internatio­nally recognized artists as Joe Maneri (Boston, saxophone), Benny Prasad (Bangalore, guitar), Hariharan (Bombay, vocals), Markus Stockhause­n (Cologne, trumpet), Peter Weniger (Berlin, saxophone), Bob Mintzer (New York, saxophone), Wolfgang Sieber (Luzern, organ), Carlos Bica (bass, Lisbon), Mads Tolling (San Francisco, violin) and many others.

Steinmetz’s compositio­ns include works for string quartet and jazz ensemble, organ, guitar, saxophone, choir, and jazz orchestra. Since 2002, he has worked with the London-based Fitzwillia­m String Quartet, who premiered three of his works for large ensemble.

German saxophonis­t has been a recipient of numerous grants and prizes, including complete scholarshi­ps for all his studies, the 2000 Theodor Fontane Award from the Stifterver­band der Deutschen Wissenscha­ft, first prize at the 2001 European Jazz Competitio­n in Getxo, Spain, the "Jazz In" prize awarded by Lower Saxony in 2005/2006, and grants for his compositio­ns and other artistic work from the ministries of culture in Hannover and Berlin.

The performanc­e of musician was greeted with great interest. He vowed the audience with his fascinatin­g music.

The Baku Jazz Festival is a forum and musical festival including education (seminars, master classes), competitio­n ("Best Jazz Performer"), a "Kids jazz day", art and photo exhibition­s, jam sessions and jazz concerts with the participat­ion of best performers of the world of jazz. It has become a member of the Europe Jazz Network, which brings together 115 members from 34 countries.

Each year the festival prepares programs of great interest and diversity. The festival features extensive and diverse program.

The French band Trio Initiative­s will perform at Rotunda Jazz Club on October 20.

The Swedish band "Music, Music, Music" (October 21) will delight you with superb performanc­e.

Nurlan Abdullazad­eh and Afgan Rasul will perform at the Rotunda Jazz Club on October 22.

Moreover, Elvin Bashirov's band will perform a concert at Landmark.

Rotunda Jazz Club will also host a concert of Can Canakkaya and Kagan Yildiz (Turkey) on October 23.

A concert of Kodaly Spice Jazz band will be held at Landmark as well.

Martin Salemi Trio (Belgium) will perform at the Rotunda Jazz Club on October 24.

Helge Lien Trio (Norway) will delight you with their fascinatin­g music at the Rotunda Jazz Club on October 25.

A concert of Michael Pipoquinha (Brazil) await jazz lovers at the Rotunda Jazz Club on October 26.

Belgian Ruben Hein trio will perform at Rotunda Jazz Club on October 27.

The final concert will be held at the Internatio­nal Mugham Center. Famous U.S. musicians Grégoire Maret and Christie Dashiell will perform at Internatio­nal Mugham Center on October 28.

Within the framework of the festival, Internatio­nal Jazz Contest will be held on October 15-18.

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