Amina Figarova - Road to the Sun (2019)

In 1998, having a blast, playing with the big band of students of Thelonius Monk Institute of Jazz, outdoors, surrounded by the gorgeous mountains of Aspen Snow Mass, I was thinking how much I wanted to create a smaller band that would have the same power of big band, but with more room for every musician to shine. Little did I know that it was the beginning of a beautiful journey, one that continues today, in which every concert, every recording is another beginning, another thrill, another joy. I conceived of the band as a septet 20 years ago, and later refined it to a sextet in 2005. And many of the most incredible musicians in the worls have been a part of this band and of my band family. It is so much fun writing them, trying out different directions, different unknows, this continues journey an exquisite adventure: enlightening, illuminating, beautiful, easy and challenging at the same time. From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank all of the musicians who work with me today and who have worked with me over the past 20 years. Up to the next 20! Amina