MJF: "He won the Montreux Jazz Festival piano competition with his brilliant interpretation of Bill Evans’ compositions"

Acclaimed in his home country of Azerbaijan as much as by Quincy Jones, pianist Isfar Sarabski is a sensation wherever he goes, both for his virtuosity and for his constant quest for new musical experiences. In 2009, at the age of 19, he won the Montreux Jazz Festival piano competition with his brilliant interpretation of Bill Evans’ compositions. The young man in his thirties is a great passer of emotions and likes to work with the electronic scene in his country, but it is to jazz that he now dedicates his work Planet. For this album, Isfar Sarabski has surrounded himself with bassist Alan Hampton and drummer Mark Guliana. A trio that sublimates the pianist’s compositions and his lyricism, perpetually under rhythmic tension. Their ecstatic jazz and cosmic swing blend with traditional and classical music when the three musicians are joined by the târ (Persian lute) of Shahriyar Imanov or the strings of the Baku Strings Quartet.

https://www.montreuxjazzfestival.com/en/artist/isfar-sarabski/