Baku International Jazz Festival wraps up with spectacular show [PHOTO]

By Laman Ismayilova

A solemn closing ceremony of Baku International Jazz Festival took place at the International Mugham Center on October 28.

The festival presented to jazz lovers a real feast of great music. Spectacular concerts by famous foreign and local musicians, master classes, jam sessions, a competition of young performers and art exhibitions were held as part of the festival.

The festival featured extensive and diverse program, bringing together world-famous musicians from Azerbaijan, Belgium, Norway, France,Brazil and other countries.

Famous U.S. musicians Grégoire Maret and Christie Dashiell performed at International Mugham Center on the final day of the festival, Day.Az reported.

The gala concert was attended by Minister of Culture Abulfaz Garayev, famous cultural figures, public figures, etc.

Addressing the event, U.S Ambassador to Azerbaijan William Gill thanked the organizers of the event and the Ministry of Culture for organizing such a festival.

Then the audience enjoyed a concert with participation of the American musicians.

Grégoire Maret is a famous harmonica performer. He started playing it at the age of 17 and became famous throughout the world for his performance.

In 2005, Grégoire toured with the Pat Metheny Group, receiving a Grammy for Best Contemporary Jazz Album for their "The Way Up". 

He co-led the jazz trio Gaïa with pianist Federico Gonzales Peña and drummer Gene Lake. He also recorded an album, Scenarios, with Andy Milne in 2007. In 2010, Grégoire Maret played at The Concert for the Rainforest with Elton John and Sting.

In 2012, Maret released his first album as a leader. The music album features such notable guests as vocalist Cassandra Wilson, bassist Marcus Miller, guitarist Raul Midón, Mark Kibble and Alvin Chea of Take 6, and the legendary harmonica player Toots Thielemans.

Modern jazz vocalist Christie Dashiell  is also beloved by jazz fans with her heartfelt voice and brilliant performances.

She has also performed at the Kennedy Center as a participant in the 2010 Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead program; at the Lincoln Theater in Washington, D.C.; and, as a part of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Jazz for Young People program. She is the recipient of DownBeat magazine’s Best College Graduate Jazz Vocalist and Outstanding Soloist awards in the jazz vocal category. 

Most recently, Dashiell appeared on season three of NBC’s The Sing-Off, as a member of Afro Blue. She can be heard on several nationally released recordings including John Blake’s Motherless Child, The Jolley Brothers’ Memoirs Between Brothers, and as a Kennedy Center Discovery Artist on NPR’s JazzSet hosted by Dee Dee Bridgewater. She has performed in concert with Esperanza Spalding, Fred Hammond, Smokey Robinson, Geri Allen and Allan Harris.

The musicians not only played well; they obviously enjoyed what they were doing. The jazz lovers experienced unforgettable night of great music.Viewers accompanied each performance with thunderous applause .

Notably, Baku International Jazz Festival was organized with the support of the Ministry of Culture and the magazine "Jazz Dünyası".

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Laman Ismayilova  is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

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