Amina Figarova - Twelve (2016) [Hi-Res]

This is Figarova’s first album after her departure from the Netherlands. Definitely a new chapter, her band never sounded so well, Amina is now ready for the big city – New York agrees with it.

Composer and pianist Amina Figarova's 12th album, titled Twelve - her debut release on the renowned independent German label In + Out - celebrates jazz is an international music and New York City as a locale where jazz gypsies may feel most at home. A suite of songs for sextet Figarova wrote swiftly in 2011 after moving with her husband and musical partner, flutist Bart Platteau, to Forest Hills, Queens from their longtime European base, Twelve is suffused with the heightened expectations, sense of adventure and fresh receptions that voluntary emigres enjoy, as well as the confidence, creative energies and nuanced fulfillment that artists gain from being in the right place at the right time.

"Figarova is among the most important composers to come into jazz in the new millennium..." (Thomas Conrad, JazzTimes)

„A skilled and imaginative composer...Born in Azerbaijan (...), Figarova brings a remarkably broad range of influences to her works, which may help explain their appeal. You can hear the influence of her classical training in the care she brings to her scoring. Yet the mercurial, unpredictable nature of her musical themes – and the intriguing way she develops them - points to a composer enraptured with the creative possibilities of jazz.“ (Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune)

„Amina Figarova's love of New York City has led to a second CD that reveals her impressions of the diverse metropolis. A native of Azerbaijan, the pianist's appearances at various venues in the city gave her the incentive to move to Forest Hills in Queens in 2010 with her husband, flutist Bart Platteau, as well as to compose. Each of the dozen originals performed on Twelve has a distinct vibe. "NYCST" is a peppy post-bop vehicle that captures the hurried tempo of the city during the week, followed by the laid-back "Another Side of the Ocean," which showcases Ernie Hammes' expressive flügelhorn and even adds an amusing lick from "My Favorite Things." The pianist's elegant "Shut Eyes, Sea Waves..." is an impressionist work with subtle shifts that add to its dreamy mood. The pulsating "Make It Happen" showcases Marc Mommaas on soprano and Hammes on trumpet, though Figarova's darting piano solo steals the show. "Twelve" is a lush Latin-flavored lullaby with a breezy air that has gorgeous ensemble work, accented by Platteau's playful flute. "Morning Pace" initially has a Far Eastern flavor, though as the band joins Figarova it transforms into a delicate ballad, featuring Jeroen Vierdag's intricate bass. Drummer Chris "Buckshot" Strik's adept percussion throughout the session is also a key factor. With this rewarding date, Amina Figarova makes her case as an important composer of her generation.“ (Ken Dryden, AMG)

Amina Figarova, piano
Bart Platteau, flute, Bb flute d'amor, bass flute, ocarina
Ernie Hammes, trumpet, flugelhorn
Marc Mommaas, tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone
Jeroen Vierdag, bass
Chris "Buckshot" Strik, drums