Amina Figarova
Amina Figarova is without doubt one of the most productive jazz composers and talented jazz piano players from Europe. Now living in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, born in Baku, Azerbaijan, Amina started playing piano and composing at a very early age. She studied as a classical concert pianist at the Baku Conservatory, jazz performance at the Rotterdam Conservatory and the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
Amina performs with her own group at many jazz festivals and jazz clubs around the world, such as The North Sea Jazz Festival, New Orleans Jazz Festival, Capetown International Jazzfestival, Salvador Bahia Jazz Festival, Brasil, JakArt Festival, Indonesia, Yoshi's in Oakland, CA, Blue Note jazz club New York, and has given concerts in Israel, Europe, United Arabs Emirates, Mexico, USA, Azerbaijan, and many others. Recorded her first CD "Attraction" in 1994, a start of a wonderful career as pianist and composer, a CD with all compositions and arrangements of Amina, almost all the music on her CDs are composed by herself.
In 1998 she was invited to study at the Thelonious Monk Jazz Colony in Aspen, Colorado. A summer camp for the most talented young musicians. That same year she released her second album "Another Me", a mix of funk, fusion and R&B, influenced by jazz, reggae and latin music, again with all original compositions. In March 2000 she was invited as artist in residence for the Dmitri Matheny Home Season in the San Fransisco Bay Area. That is how the Amina Figarova International Band got started, now released two live recorded CDs. Also the collaboration with Kim Prevost and Bill Solley from New Orleans resulted in the recording "On Canal Street". Amina is touring and performing often with Denise Jannah.
Amina performed with the American All Stars Band with James Moody, Nathan Davis, Claudio Roditi, Larry Corryell, and Wynard Harper. "Come escape with me" (Munich Records, MRCD 465) showcases Amina's exceptional compositional and arranging skills. Her music (all of the CD's 12 tunes are written by her) is tasteful and refined, showcasing her talents as well as those of her band - a three-piece horn section and one amazing flute player. This new release is the most logical follow-up of her septet CD releases "Firewind" and "Night Train", celebrating the fifth anniversary of her septet. At the moment Amina tours with two different groups.
Her septet features other wonderful musicians from The Netherlands and Belgium, and her Amina Figarova International Quintet.
Read moreTags
Album Review
- September Suite by Jim Santella
- September Suite by John Kelman
Interview
Album Review
- Above the Clouds by Dan McClenaghan
- Above the Clouds by J Hunter
Live Review
- Amina Figarova in Concert, La Jolla, CA, Feb. 26, 2009
- Amina Figarova Sextet: Golden, CO, March 6, 2013
Album Review
- Road To The Sun by Dan McClenaghan
- Persistence by Edward Blanco
- Persistence by Maurizio Zerbo
February 20, 2013
Jazz This Week: Jim Pugh, Jeremy Haynes, Amina Figarova, Jazz St. Louis...
February 17, 2013
STLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Amina Figarova's Jazz Journey
May 17, 2012
MCG Jazz To Stream A Concert Live Today!
April 10, 2012
Internationally Renowned Pianist/Composer Amina Figarova Celebrates New...
August 23, 2010
Amina Figarova - Sketches (2010)
February 05, 2010
Internationally Renowned Jazz Pianist/Composer Amina Figarova Tours...
August 12, 2009
Pianist/Composer Amina Figarova Tours to Minneapolis, Oshkosh, Chicago,...
December 02, 2008
Jazz Musician of the Day: Amina Figarova
June 27, 2008
Pianist Amina Figarova Interviewed at AAJ
May 26, 2008
"... She is a major artist..." by Jack Massarik for the London Evening Standard
"... one that showcases one of jazz’ very best working bands..." by George Kanzler for The New York City Jazz record
"...With this rewarding date, Amina Figarova makes her case as an important composer of her generation..." By Ken Dryden for www.allmusic.com
"... This is a band that built its reputation playing original repertoire, each musician a powerful soloist in his or her own right; yet it is their signature interplay that moves the Amina Figarova Sextet above and beyond the vast majority of large chamber ensembles in modern jazz and places the pianist among the top echelon of composer/ bandleaders...." by Andrea Canter for www.jazzpolice.com
Photos
Album Discography
Whotsot
From: SketchesBy Amina Figarova