Amina Figarova is without doubt one of the most productive jazz composers and talented jazz piano players from Europe. She studied as a classical concert pianist at the Baku Conservatory, jazz performance at the Rotterdam Conservatory then the Berklee College of Music in Boston. In 1998 she was accepted into the prestigious Thelonious Monk Jazz Colony in Aspen, Colorado.
Amina’s latest album Above the Clouds was released in 2008 and spent 10 weeks in the Top 15 of the JazzWeek USA Jazz Chart. Far from derivative or concept-conscious, Above the Cloudsj unfolds as a personal, vividly coloured, confidently-propelled contemporary soundtrack, satisfying in and of itself. Throughout the entire album Amina's measured, graceful, touching pianism and cooly-controlled ensemble writing demonstrate commitment and ease with a jazz idiom.
With her husband multi-flutist Bart Platteau who is central to the three horn frontline, Amina arranges for her sextet. She plays compelling, artful and heartfelt changes on the urbane, bluesy lyricism originally developed by the likes of Miles Davis, Horace Silver, Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter. Other members of the sextet from the Netherlands performing in Victoria include, Mark Mamaatenor Sax, Alex Pope Norristrumpet, Chris Strikdrums and Martin Windbass.
***In conjunction with Amina Figarova’s performance, the sextet will conduct an informal jazz workshop/clinic at Long and McQuade Music Education Centre (2822 Nanaimo St.) on Tuesday, March 16, 4 – 5:15pm. As part of the Victoria Jazz Society’s “Student Outreach Program,” registration for this workshop is free!
Please contact the Victoria Jazz Society office at 250-388-4423 to register or visit us at Suite J – 727 Johnson St.
***The Amina Figarova Sextet USA-Canada tour has been made possible with the help of the "Nederlands Fonds voor de Podiumkunsten"
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