"TIME GRINDS TASTE"

Apple does not fall far from the tree... This proverb from a professional point of view could be replaced by one capacious word - dynasty. Camil Amirov, like his famous father Fikrat Amirov, also became a composer. But what he chose was not classical music but jazz. And today he is one of the most famous representatives of Azerbaijani jazz. A correspondent of R+ talks with composer Camil Amirov about childhood memories, his father's influence on the choice of profession, jazz and many other things.

- Since childhood you wanted to become a musician? Or did you have other dreams? For example, football? Usually, boys dream of becoming a football player...

- According to my relatives, I began to show interest in music very early because from the first days of my life I was in the "epicentre" of events taking place in the house - I especially enjoyed listening to and watching my father working. Interest and love for music predetermined all events in my life, and I never doubted the correctness of the choice of profession. Football, as a great game, affected my interests in childhood too: like many of my peers, I played football in amateur teams whenever I could.

- Did your father somehow influence your choice of profession?

- His work couldn't leave me indifferent, especially since all that happened just before my eyes. The cult of music reigned in our house - magical sounds were heard in the apartment every day. It's safe to say that I was "stewed" in his music, and my attitude, principles and orientation in work are based on all of the above. It all added up to the clear form of my overall development and shaped my attitude to everything.

- How did your father react when he learned that jazz is closer to you than classical music?

- My father suggested that I start composing music when, studying in the piano class in the seventh grade at the Bulbul Central Music School, I began to feel that performing arts didn't satisfy me. I began to study composition in parallel, became interested in jazz and its endless possibilities. Realizing that I like jazz most of all, I decided to devote my life to this magical genre. My father, assessing the situation and feeling that this was not a passing fancy, didn't discourage me. Moreover, he advised me to continue academic education, explaining that for a successful jazz career one just needs to have a classical education, for which I'm eternally grateful to him.

- The style of jazz performance is often influenced by other musicians. What musicians did you listen to in your youth and who are you trying to emulate?

- Time grinds taste. It applies to me too, but there are, of course, constant favourites in music - you can't name them all. In certain periods they formed my style and orientation. But most importantly, new bright names with great potential appear all the time.

- There's a widespread saying: Jazz was first music for the poor, then music for the rich, but always remained music for the smart. Do you agree with that? Why do you think jazz is considered "music not for everyone"?

- Jazz requires a certain intellectual and creative level performers and fans, and this unites them in a small but close-knit team. The lack of mass success allows jazz to continue its endless improvisational development.

- What do you think should be done to revive interest in jazz in our country?

- The main thing is to promote it correctly and raise the listener's interest in and attention to this magical genre.

- You like to experiment with music. What, in your opinion, is interesting to the modern listener?

- The modern listener is extremely informed about musical experiments and demands certain products - it allows jazz to easily search for new syntheses of development...

- You lead the musical band Savab. What's the hardest thing about this business? What challenges do your musicians face?

- Ideally, a team includes associates by the musical level and training. But some projects can include other combinations too - it all depends on the task. There can be difficulties in all cases - the main thing is to overcome them and realize your plans...

- What are you interested in apart from music?

- Music takes almost all my time - the information is sufficient, and it's necessary to have time to digest it all. Doing your favourite thing and having fun, first of all, requires time and attention - and the more, the better...

- In my spare time I like literature, painting, documentaries and football.

- You are a musician in the third generation. Did your daughter continue the family tradition? Tell us about your family.

- My daughter is an economist, but she's also a creative person. I just belong to the category of parents who, knowing all the stringent requirements and endless difficulties of being a musician, do not want their loved ones to do it. The only hope is my grandson - let's wait and see...