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Amina Figarova Is Coming to the U.S.
Amina Figarova Is Coming to the U.S.
Date Posted: August 13 2011
Written By: Chicago Jazz
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Pianist/composer Amina Figarova tours the US in early September, coming to 8 cities and culminating in the U.S. premiere of September Suite, her visceral and moving musical response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, on Saturday, September 10th at The Puffin Foundation in Teaneck, NJ, and at the Metropolitan Room in NYC on Sunday, September 11th.
Amina, the globe-trotting Azerbaijan-born, Rotterdam-based composer-pianist-bandleader, is joined in concert by her touring sextet of Marc Mommaas (tenor sax), Ernie Hammes (trumpet), Bart Platteau (flutes), Roland Guerin (bass), and Chris “Buckshot” Strik (drums). Unwilling to be pinned down to one sound, the music is rooted in the progressive mainstream styles of post-bebop legends like Miles Davis and Bill Evans, but illuminated with a modernist perspective (think Maria Schneider).
Here are some notable gigs to check out:
Wednesday, September 7: Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N Lincoln, Chicago, IL
Show at 8:30 p.m. Free ticketed event. $5 suggested donation, call for reservations at 773-718-6000 or log on to www.oldtownschool.org
Thursday, September 8: WDCB Jazz Salon @ Mayslake, 1717 W. 31st Street, Oak Brook, IL
Show at 7:30 p.m. Tickets $25 premium/$20 general/$16 student, Call 630-206-9566 or log on to www.mayslakepeabody.com
NYC Premiere of September Suite - Sunday, September 11: The Metropolitan Room, 34 W 22nd Street, New York, NY
Show at 7 p.m. Tickets $20. Call 212-206-0440 or log on to www.metropolitanroom.com
September Suite is not just a homage to the victims and those they left behind after the September 11th, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington DC. First and foremost it is an Ode to Mourning, a sketch of grief that may occur in any way, shape or form, anywhere in the world, at any given moment, whether it be caused by massive manifestations of human aggression, or small, but equally fatal ones, by natural disasters, accidents, famine, disease or unfortunate twists of fate. It is also a sensory analysis of the stages of grief everyone faces when dealing with a great human loss: death rendering one speechless, bringing emptiness, making one deny the end, showing pictures of life, leading to powerless rage and commanding acceptance until finally only grief, silence and longing remain.
Figarova was fast asleep at the apartment of Brooklyn friends when just a few miles away two airplanes flew into the World Trade Center. Once back in Rotterdam, Amina Figarova tried to avoid watching TV footage of the terrorist attacks. Then one day a BBC documentary caught her attention and stayed with her. It was the touching story of a British woman who took her daughter to see the place on Staten Island where their husband and father, who worked at the WTC, lost his life. His remains were never found. The woman accepted her fate, but the daughter was in denial about her father's death, still convinced he would come back. They are interviewed on a boat sailing past Staten Island, against the backdrop of Lady Liberty and the ominous column of smoke still rising from Ground Zero like the spirit of pure evil. For Amina Figarova, these television images compelled her into action. She got behind the piano to allow the keys to make sense of her feelings.
Figarova released a CD of September Suite in 2005 CD to rave reviews, and has also performed the work in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. These will be their first US performances.
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