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429
Album Review

Amina Figarova: Above the Clouds

Read "Above the Clouds" reviewed by J Hunter


On September Suite (Munich, 2005), Amina Figarova's inspiration was one of the biggest events this generation may ever know--the September 11th attacks, and their psychological aftermath. While Above the Clouds's subject matter is both smaller and lighter, Figarova again chooses a large medium and a multi-colored palate to illustrate her vision. And this is all to the good because, in many ways, Clouds is the antithesis of September.

Much of Clouds's emotional foundation comes from the words of Figarova's mother: ...

382
Album Review

Amina Figarova: Above the Clouds

Read "Above the Clouds" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


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 ...

156
Album Review

Michael Simon & Roots United: Revelacion

Read "Revelacion" reviewed by Jerry D'Souza


Michael Simon was born in a family where music was a strong persuasion. His father Hadsy, a guitarist and singer, first inculcated the love of music in him, while his brothers Edward and Marlon turned his ear towards jazz. After attending a concert by Irakere in Curacao, he went to Cuba and learned the music of that country. Three years later, in 1992, he moved to the Netherlands, where he now resides.

Simon composed and arranged all the music on ...

417
Album Review

Amina Figarova: September Suite

Read "September Suite" reviewed by John Kelman


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 ...

182
Album Review

Amina Figarova: September Suite

Read "September Suite" reviewed by Jim Santella


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 ...

137
Album Review

Amina Figarova: September Suite

Read "September Suite" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


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 ...

121
Album Review

Amina Figarova: Come Escape With Me

Read "Come Escape With Me" reviewed by Michael P. Gladstone


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 ...

258
Album Review

Amina Figarova: Come Escape With Me

Read "Come Escape With Me" reviewed by John Kelman


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 ...

186
Album Review

Amina Figarova: Come Escape with Me

Read "Come Escape with Me" reviewed by Jim Santella


The modern mainstream fits Amina Figarova like a glove. Her compositions carry with them an exotic feeling of anticipation along with their mesmerizing groove. At the piano, she's in control, improvising over lovely melodies and creating a storm of subdued passion.

Her septet has been together for five years. Figarova's husband, Bart Platteau, holds down the flute chair for this band that has two previous CD releases. Their work plays out cohesively, and they interpret each piece with ...

233
Album Review

Amina Figarova: Come Escape with Me

Read "Come Escape with Me" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


Many successful jazz pianists got their start, at early ages, studying classical music. Then jazz lures them away. A constant surprise is the verve and energy so many of these classically trained musicians bring to improvisation.Born in Baku, Azerbaijan and now based in the Netherlands, pianist Amina Figarova's Come Escape with Me bristles with energy and originality on her first solo, a joyful piano interlude inside the title tune's classic jazz arrangement. Figarova leads a septet here--trumpet, flute, ...


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