On Canal Street began its inception when I first met Job Zomer, owner of Munich Records, in New Orleans at a jazz club during a CD release party of STR artists in 1997. I visited him in The Netherlands the next year and later at the MIDEM music conference in Cannes, France, where he introduced me to Amina Figarova and Bart Platteau. I convinced them to visit New Orleans and attend the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
When Amina and Bart met Kim Prevost and Bill Solley at a jam session in a hotel on Canal Street, I decided that these two couples must record. Amina and Bart flew to New Orleans for two different sessions, tracking a total of 20 tunes. They also recorded some parts for the CD in The Netherlands. After several trips across the Atlantic Ocean in both directions in a two-plus year period, this CD is complete. The music varies from R & B flavors to jazz and the street beats of New Orleans.
Kim wrote the lyrics to many of Amina's tunes, the meeting of the minds, so-to-speak, of two great musicians, and wonderfully supported by BiLL (guitar) and Bart (flute) The rhythm section includes Ricky Sebastian, Roland Guerin and Kenyatta Simon, with Cope Kirkland providing rap. Conal Street Blues was inspired by the first meeting of Kim, Bill,Amina, and Bart, a perfect combination of busy, hectic modern American life, and slow, laid back, easy-going New Orleans.
Fever whispers sensuality in your ear as you hear Kim and bassist Roland Guerin featured in this unique interpretation of the only standard on the CD. Averacruz is a duo setting of Kim and Bill with Bart on flute and percussion added by Kenyatta Simon. Funky No Means No is about "girl- power". This includes a rap section by Cope Kirkland in a man's desparate search for love from his girl who Is not necessarily interested in his advances. Time to Departure shows the virtuosity of Bill and Bart, with Ricky Sebastian featured at the end of the tune in a drum solo over a vamp created by Amina on piano. Pass The Word has an R & B feel, talking of family. Eleven years ago Amina hired Bart to play flute on a demo of the beatifull ballad Midnight.At that time they fell in love, and they married six months later. Night Dream features the technique of Amina and Bill and their amazing improvisational abiiities The energy in the pop-oriented Love is The Cure features the entire group performing in yet another form of music. Amina wrote the song Selena after seeing a "Carmen-like" mysterious expression in Kim's persona. Hints of Spain are heard In this passionate song, featuring a stunning performance by Kim and an acoustic guitar solo by Bill. Meant to Be takes us gentiy to the end of this eclectic group of songs.
Sanford Hinderlie
STR Digitai Records
Was born 1964 in Baku, Azerbaidjan (former Sovjet Union). Started to play piano at the age of two, to compose at the age of three. At the age of six she entered to "the secondary special school for most talented children", where she followed classical piano. All these years she was writing classical music, a lot for piano and cello. In 1982 she graduated and entered "the State Conservatory of Baku", where she graduated in 1987 as a classical concert pianist.
Immediately after her study she became a professor classical piano-major at het Conservatory of Baku. Played many concerts and competitions in the USSR. In 1987 she won the first prize at a competition of composers of the USSR. In 1989 she participated in Kislovodsk at a festival of composers of the USSR and USA. In 1990 she was invited to the Netherlands to give a classical concert. At this time Moskow Radio International was broadcasting a programm about Amina and her music. With this tape she was invited to study at the Rotterdams Conservatory at the jazz department. Started to take lessons with one of the best Dutch pianoplayers Rob van Kreefeld, and vocal lessons with an American singer Coco York.
In 1992 Amina went to the USA to study at "the Berklee College of Music, Boston, with Laslo Cardony, Ed Tomassi, Danillo Perez, Brad Hatfield, and many others. Back in Holland she recorded the CD "Attraction" with all original compositions by Amina. In 1998 she was invited to study at the Thelonious Monk Jazz Colony in Aspen, Colorado. A summercamp for the most talented young musicians including masterclasses with Kenny Barron, Nathan Davis, Danillo Perez, Monty Alexander, Terence Blanchard, Jeff Hamilton, John Clayton. In 1998 she released her second album "Another Me", a mix of funk, fusion and R&B, influenced by jazz, reggae and latin music, with all original compositions by Amina. In 1999 she recorded the CD "Firewind" with her Jazzseptet with Jarmo Hoogendijk, Kurt van Herck, Carolyn Breuer, Bart Platteau, Hein van de Geijn and Hans Eijkenaar, with mostly all compositions and arrangements by Amina. In March 2000 she was invited as artist in residence for the Dmitri Matheny Home Season in the San Fransisco Bay Area.
In April 2000 she performed with Kim Prevost and Bill Solley at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. In July 2000 she performed at the North Jazz Festival with her Jazzseptet. In January 2001 the musical DIANA, about Prinses Lady Diana, for which she is composing the music, went in premiere.
