Jazz Articles about Amina Figarova

Amina Figarova: Above the Clouds

by Dan McClenaghan
October 20, 2008

Amina Figarova--an Azerbaijan-born and now Rotterdam-based artist--boasts a graceful and erudite piano style, but her second instrument is her band. She composes and arranges adeptly for her “three horn front line and a rhythm section" ensemble on Above the Clouds, using the same instrumental make-up that she employed in her marvelous September Suite (Munich Records, 2005), the artist's response to the tragedy of 9/11, and Come Escape With Me (Munich Records, 2005).Above the Clouds continues with the post-bop ...

Amina Figarova: Cross-Continental Jazz

by Franz A. Matzner
July 8, 2008

Born in Azerbaijan, but located now in the Netherlands, and in demand at festivals and clubs around the globe, pianist Amina Figarova is a case study in the internationalization of jazz. A prodigious talent from early childhood, Figarova was drawn to jazz as a young player, even as she established herself as a formidable professional classical performer.While studying composition by invitation in Rotterdam, she switched to a jazz course, and within a year was at the Berklee School ...

Amina Figarova: September Suite

by John Kelman
October 23, 2005

An unfortunate byproduct of today's music industry is that artists are often restricted in how frequently they can release new albums. Sometimes it's a matter of logistics--ECM, despite its prominence, operates with a surprisingly small staff. The direct involvement of label owner Manfred Eicher on virtually every record inherently limits the number of releases each year. Typically, however, it's the result of marketing folks who don't want to place artists in competition with themselves.

In the 1960s multiple releases by ...

Amina Figarova: September Suite

by Jim Santella
October 14, 2005

The world was changed by the horrific events that took place on September 11th. We were all affected. There's no going back.

In composing and interpreting a suite to mark that episode in our lives, pianist Amina Figarova has captured the feelings that we all share. Impressionism remains a vital part of modern jazz, and Figarova has found a way of communicating with her audience intuitively.

Sometimes there's a quality in art that escapes us. We ...

Amina Figarova: September Suite

by Dan McClenaghan
October 10, 2005

Taking life-affirming inpiration from one of America's darkest days, pianist/composer/arranger Amina Figarova has crafted one of the finest jazz sets of the year with September Suite. Composed in memory of the victims of 9/11--and as a homage to those suffering grief in any situation--the work delves deeply into the emotions that evolve in times of great loss.On a very good jazz set from earlier this year, Come Escape With Me, Figarova proved herself an outstanding writer/arranger for jazz ...

Amina Figarova: Come Escape With Me

by Michael P. Gladstone
April 8, 2005

The title of Come Escape With Me resembles the debut recordings of Norah Jones and Nellie McKay within the past few years, and the photogenic cover shot of Amina Figarova on this album seems to announce the arrival of another singer/songwriter. Alas, marketing being what it is, this is neither a debut nor a singer.

Jazz pianist/composer Amina Figarova is an Azerbaijan native now residing in Rotterdam who has led this group for several years. This is her ...

Amina Figarova: Come Escape With Me

by John Kelman
March 23, 2005

Looks can be deceiving. A quick glance at the cover of Amina Figarova's Come Escape With Me, with Figarova staring wistfully off into the distance, and one might be led to the conclusion that this is yet another female singer arriving on an already overcrowded scene.

One couldn't be more mistaken. Figarova, an ex-pat from Azerbaijan now living in the Netherlands, is in fact a fine pianist and composer, with Come Escape With Me being her fifth release in seven ...