Amina Figarova

Born: December 2, 1966

Amina Figarova is without doubt one of the most productive jazz composers and talented jazz piano players from Europe. Now living in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, born in Baku, Azerbaijan, Amina started playing piano and composing at a very early age. She studied as a classical concert pianist at the Baku Conservatory, jazz performance at the Rotterdam Conservatory and the Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Amina performs with her own group at many jazz festivals and jazz clubs around the world, such as The North Sea Jazz Festival, New Orleans Jazz Festival, Capetown International Jazzfestival, Salvador Bahia Jazz Festival, Brasil, JakArt Festival, Indonesia, Yoshi's in Oakland, CA, Blue Note jazz club New York, and has given concerts in Israel, Europe, United Arabs Emirates, Mexico, USA, Azerbaijan, and many others. Recorded her first CD "Attraction" in 1994, a start of a wonderful career as pianist and composer, a CD with all compositions and arrangements of Amina, almost all the music on her CDs are composed by herself.

Syndee Winters, Joe Farnsworth, Emma Smith, Lauren Scales, Mike Flanagan & Chris Grasso, Paloma Dineli Chesky

by Mary Foster Conklin
August 4, 2025

This broadcast includes new releases from Syndee Winters, Joe Farnsworth, Emma Smith, Paloma Dineli Chesky, Lauren Scales, Mike Flanagan & Chris Grasso, with birthday shoutouts to Janis Siegel, Emily Asher, Ada Rovatti, Joanne Brackeen, Annie Ross, Fay Victor and Nnenna Freelon, among others. Happy listening and please support the artists you hear--see them live, buy their ...

Suite For Africa

By Amina Figarova

Label: Amfi Records
Released: 2024
Track listing: Dancing Clouds; Suite for Africa Part 1: Spirit Africa, Spirit Liberia; Suite for Africa Part 2: Fifteen as One; Suite for Africa Part 3: Forgotten Children; Faith, Is Her Name; Worldwide; Rain River; Paper Kites.

It's Hard to Say Goodbye

By Enrico Granafei

Label: CAP Records - Consolidated Records Productions
Released: 2024
Track listing: Claudinho; Night Train; PIA; Medo de Amar; L' Ultima Cialda; Calabrossa; What Goes Around Comes Around; Amico, Bluesette; To My Lady; It's Hard to Say Goodbye.

Holiday Music By Amanda McBroom, Joy Lapps, Margaret Slovak, Plus New Releases Diane Robin and Marina Albero

by Mary Foster Conklin
December 16, 2024

This broadcast includes holiday music from Amanda McBroom, Joy Lapps, Margaret Slovak & Chris Maresh, new releases from Diane Robin & Life Force and Marina Albero, with birthday shoutouts to Julieta Eugenio, Etta Jones, Amina Figarova, Cory Weeds, Melissa Aldana, Ragan Whiteside, Dave Brubeck, Aline Homzy and Cassandra Wilson. Happy listening and please support the artists ...

Dan McClenaghan's Best Jazz Albums Of 2024

by Dan McClenaghan
December 9, 2024

These recordings are 2024's best of the best. If the business of jazz is a rough go, the art of jazz thrives. Click on the album titles to see the full reviews. Bill AnschellImprobable Solutions Origin Records David FriesenThis Light Has ...

Enrico Granafei: It's Hard to Say Goodbye

by Nicholas F. Mondello
September 18, 2024

With It's Hard to Say Goodbye, multi-talented Italian guitarist and harmonica player, Enrico Granafei and a group of standouts offer eleven Latin-flavored jazz selections. The effort, recorded over an extended period, also features two artists who have unfortunately passed--trumpeter Claudio Roditi and pianist, Mike Longo. Granafei has dedicated the album to them and to the memory ...

Kandace Springs, John Dokes, Catherine Russell and More!

by Jua Howard
September 8, 2024

Welcome Music Family! It's time for another episode of the “First Instrument Jazz Show"! As usual, I've got a great show in store for you including a lot of new music from Kandace Springs, Catherine Russell, Caity Gyorgy, John Dokes, Shana Tucker and Marianne Solivan; and plenty more timeless music from artists such as Curtis Stigers, ...

Cornelia Nilsson, Monika Herzig, Alexis Cole, Alvin Queen and more

by Benjamin Boddie
August 14, 2024

Today's Music--Right Now! ... Fantastic music by Cornelia Nilsson, Monika Herzig, Alexis Cole, Alvin Queen, Jan Harbeck, Synia Carroll, Robby Ameen, Anthony Branker, Karrin Allyson, Stuart Mack, Louis Hayes, Veronica Thomas, Jon Lee, Yuto Ito, Randy Weinstein, Patrick Wolff, Jared Hall, Milton Suggs, Mariah Parker, Etienne Charles and more. Playlist Cornelia Nilsson “Saturn's Return" ...

Brian Ho, Louis Hayes, Markus Howell, Judith Owen and more

by Benjamin Boddie
August 7, 2024

Today's Music--Right Now!... Fantastic music by Brian Ho, Louis Hayes, Markus Howell, Ken Peplowski, Win Pongsakorn, Jeff Coffin, Lakecia Benjamin, Josh Lawrence, Clarence Penn, Alan Braufman, Seve Turre, Tim Lin, Tardo Hammer, Eric Alexander & Mike LeDonne, Matthew Whitaker, Bobby Broom, Neil Adler, Nancy Erickson Lamont, Judith Owen, John Lee and more. Playlist Brian ...