site.btaYoung Jazz Musicians Shine in Solo Concert at Plovdiv Jazz Fest

Young jazz musicians gave a solo concert at Plovdiv Jazz Fest, event organizers said on Sunday. The final evening of the festival opened with a performance by music talents from Art Voice Centre, joined by Plovdiv-based jazz pianist Ivan Garbachev at Bee Bop Cafe.

These annual concerts play a significant role in highlighting and attracting the audience’s attention to the youngest jazz enthusiasts, organizers said.

On stage alongside Garbachev were Eli Hadjidoncheva, Maria Stoycheva, Georgi Dimkin, Eleonora Razpopova, Alexandra Todorova, Katerina Kaneva, Magdalena Mateeva, Ava Shtereva, and Deyana Bivolarska.

“Jazz, as part of the great art of music, needs to be recognized, studied, and performed by children,” Garbachev said before the concert. He noted that, for him, music “is the greatest of all arts, not because I am a musician, but because, if you think about it, music is the most universal language and not a human invention but something that exists all around us.”

Garbachev believes that it is important for every young person to become familiar with music because art, regardless of its form, develops and shapes personality in a way nothing else can. “Jazz is not just music, it is a way of thinking. It teaches young people about freedom and gives them a different perspective on the world,” Garbachev added. He said that for young musicians, this is particularly vital, as it places them in situations of active thinking and encourages the creativity and spontaneity that are characteristic of jazz. “Discovering jazz develops imagination, cultivates taste, and builds a creative personality,” Garbachev said.

He thinks that concerts like this give young musicians the opportunity to feel what the real stage is, the live interaction with the audience, the excitement, and the responsibility. “When people listen to young jazz performers with attention and respect, it gives them great strength and confidence,” the pianist noted.

Garbachev described working with children as a real joy. “They are genuine, open, and feel music in the purest way. When you give them freedom and attention, they start to find their own voice. Witnessing the moment when music becomes a personal discovery for them is the greatest reward for any teacher,” he said.

The musician shared that he has been part of the Plovdiv Jazz Fest team for more than 10 years and has watched with pleasure as the festival has been gradually established as an event of national significance. “The festival already has its traditions and offers incredible concerts with some of the best contemporary jazz musicians from around the world,” Garbachev said, expressing his gratitude to organizers Miroslava Katsarova and Tanko Katsarov.

Sunday’s programme continues with two major concerts at Boris Hristov House of Culture. First, Zone C will take the stage, followed by the world-renowned American band Yellowjackets, who will close this year’s Plovdiv Jazz Fest.