Azerbaijan-born, globe-trotting composer and pianist Amina Figarova will perform at the Swanage Jazz Festival in UK.
She introduces ten colorful, compelling new compositions performed by her touring sextet plus guests on Blue Whisper, her 13th album since her 1994 debut Attraction.
Figarova’s deeply personal, highly evocative responses to social turmoil, distinctive personalities she’s encountered and universal transitions of life inform the music on Blue Whisper. Moods range from the haunting beauty of the titular track “Blue Whisper,” as well as “Moonrise” and “Hewa” (featuring lyrics in Swahili by Sarah Elizabeth Charles) to the straight-ahead momentum of “Moving Forward,” “The Hustler” and “The Traveler,” to the sophisticated playfulness of “Pictures,” “Marians” and “Juno.” In “Hear My Voice,” over a martial beat and sorrowful, resolute horn choir, an eight-year-old girl earnestly urges an end to violence world-wide and, with laughter, a request to “Let kids be kids.”
Throughout all tracks, Amina’s classically founded touch, her lilting melodies, luminous harmonies, often understated yet always propulsive rhythms and star soloists come together with immaculate sophistication. Trumpeters Ernie Hammes and Alex Pope Norris, saxophonists Wayne Escoffery and Marc Mommaas, bassists Luques Curtis and Yasushi Nakamura, drummer Jason Brown, flutist Bart Platteau — Figarova’s partner and husband of nearly 25 years – and electric guitarist Anthony Wilson (on “Pictures”) are featured advantageously in spontaneous, creative engagement with her compositional themes and intentions.
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