Azerbaijani jazz pianist shines in Cannes
By Nazrin Gadimova
Famous Azerbaijani pianist Isfar Sarabski successfully performed at Midem Festival in Cannes on February 2.
Supported by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, winner of the 43rd Montreux International Jazz Festival, Isfar Sarabski performed with the band, including Makar Novikov on double bass, Alexander Mashin on drums, Shahriyar Imanov on tar and ud, Umida Abasova and Osman Eyyublu on violin, Ilgar Rzayev on viola and Aleksey Miltikh on cello, in Majestic Hotel's Diane salon.
During the concert Isfar Sarabski performed works by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Vagif Mustafazade.
Moreover, books and brochures made by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation on Azerbaijani mugham, jazz, pop music have been distributed to the audience.
The Midem Festival, which has been held in France since 1967, is a significant event in the music world, the place where music makers, cutting-edge technologies, brands and talents come together under one roof to source, sell and sign new music, digital solutions and innovative ideas. The event annually brings together world-famous companies and professional musicians, who meet in order to expand their activities.
The last year's festival was attended by over 6400 and 3000 representatives of companies. Moreover, the festival, which holds professional trade fairs and concerts, award the best musician the "NRJ Music Awards" prize.
Isfar Sarabski began playing the piano at the age of seven. He studied classic piano for eleven years at the Bulbul Music School in Baku. His early influences included Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie, while Keith Jarrett, Brad Mehldau, Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson, and Vagif Mustafazadeh have inspired Sarabski to compose his own music.
To date, 25-year-old Sarabski has participated in the annual Sildajazz festival in Norway and the International Jazz Festival in Russia.
He also received awards at "Stars of Issyk-kul" International Classical and National Music Festival in Kyrgyzstan in 2004.
Sarabski regularly performs in the Baku Jazz Centre, which hosts concerts every evening, and at the Baku International Jazz Festival, which has hosted a range of international and Azerbaijani performers, including Billy Cobham, Joe Zawinul, and Herbie Hancock.