Evening of Musical Improvisation

Fairmont Jazz Club becomes Baku Jazz Festival 2024 venue

BY ELENA KOSOLAPOVA
AZERI OBSERVER STAFF WRITER

The Jazz Club, nestled in the iconic Fairmont Baku Flame Towers, set the stage for one of the most remarkable concerts of the Baku Jazz Festival 2024.

In The Jazz Club’s elegant interiors, with mesmerizing views of night Baku, the Italian trio Lusi-Zanchini-Masciari captivated the audience with their artistry. This unique ensemble brought together the saxophone of Gianluca Lusi, the accordion of Simone Zanchini, and the guitar of Luigi Masciari.

Inspired to break free from traditional jazz structures, they performed expressive pieces from their album Gone, released by Tosky Records in 2022. This experimental album, crafted without a traditional rhythm section, allowed the musicians to improvise freely and transport listeners to unexpected realms of musical expression. Each piece by the trio was a masterful improvisation, where the music ventured beyond the ordinary, and each note felt like a step into the unknown.
The concert opened with a welcoming speech from the Italian Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Luca di Gianfrancesco, who highlighted the role of cultural exchange in bringing the two countries closer together.

The concert’s sold-out crowd was a testament to the growing popularity of contemporary jazz in Baku. Every piece was met with resounding applause, and the trio’s remarkable improvisations created an atmosphere where the audience’s breath synchronized with the music’s flow.
The event was co-organized by Azeri Observer and luxury lifestyle magazine The M.O.S.T. Fairmont Jazz Club treated true jazz aficionados to gourmet selections from its menu, accompanied by drinks from partners Glenfiddich, Savalan, and Astoria. The night concluded with a raffle featuring gifts from sponsors including Parfum City, Thameen, and CraZzy Gifts and Souvenirs, making the evening even more unforgettable.
This year, Baku Jazz Festival ran from October 17 to 27, uniting talented jazz musicians from 11 countries. Traditional jazz, ethno-jazz, bossa nova, and jazz-rock were performed across Baku’s venues, alongside exhibitions, presentations, and meet-and-greets with world jazz stars. The festival once again showcased that Azerbaijan’s capital is not just a meeting place for jazz but a true stage for creative expression, where every musician and attendee discovers a new world of music.