First section of the September Suite, "Numb," by Amina Figarova, featuring Figarova on piano, Bart Platteau - Flutes; Kurt van Herck - tenorsax; Nico Schepers - trumpet; Wiro Mahieu - bass; and Chris Strik - drums. Released by Munich Records in 2005.
The Amina Figarova Sextet performs Saturday, May 5 at Frankie’s Jazz Club in Vancouver. The show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets $25.
Thomas Conrad of Stereophile Magazine writes about the Azerbaijan-born, New York-based pianist/composer “…Many of the strongest composer/arranger/orchestra leaders in jazz are women. Think Toshiko Akiyoshi, Carla Bley, Maria Schneider. Amina Figarova has a chance to join their company. All she needs is an orchestra. Figarova’s compositions for small ensemble have been brilliant since at least 2005, when she released September Suite, still the deepest, most powerful jazz response to the events of 9/11…”
Dispatch from Figarova's twitter feed in Boise, Idaho, on Wednesday, May 2 as the band make their way west: "Someone broke in our room @hotel43, stole the key, than came back when we were performing, got the passports, CDs, IPads, jewelry and more! No security cameras! Not much cooperation either!."
