American Jazz Musician Michael Zerang to Visit Tbilisi
At the end of May, renowned American jazz percussionist Michael Zerang will visit Tbilisi for the first time. During his visit, he will conduct improvised music workshops and perform live shows in the capital.
Born in Chicago in the US in 1958 to an Iranian father and Iraqi mother, Zerang has been working as a professional musician, composer, and producer since 1976. After graduating from Wilbur Wright College and Roosevelt College, he began to tour around the world, focusing on improvised music, free jazz, contemporary composition, as well as international musical forms.
Since the beginning of his musical career, he has recorded more than 120 albums with important American jazz musicians such as Dave Rempis and Hamid Drake as well as international artists such as German musician Axel Dorner and Swiss percussionist Fredy Studer.
He has also worked closely with theaters, dance and puppet shows during his career. His success saw him win three Joseph Jefferson Awards for Original Musical Composition in 1996, 1998 and 2000. He went on to become the artistic director of the Link’s Hall Performance series in Chicago from 1985 - 1989 where he produced over 300 performances of jazz, traditional ethnic folk music, electronic music, as well as other progressive musical forms.
More recently, he has turned his attention to teaching various aspects of musical performance. He has taught as a guest artist at The School of the Arts Institute of Chicago, at The Dance Center at Columbia College, at Northwestern University, and the MoMing Dance and Arts Center.
On 29 - 30 May, Zerang will bring his musical skills to Tbilisi and will host a workshop and live gig at the Ikalto Micro Art Residence, a newly opened space for artists on Zaza Panaskertel-Tsitshvili Street. The two three-hour sessions are designed to help proficient musicians to explore improvisation by studying techniques, textures, timbres, breathing, performance, and strategies of improvisation.
The jazz scene in Tbilisi is small but healthy. Bars such as Jazz Cafe Singer on Sioni Street regularly host talented jazz musicians for live performances. In addition, the annual Tbilisi Jazz Festival took place 28 February - 2 March 2019, celebrating its twelfth year.
On 30 April 2019, Tbilisi also celebrated International Jazz Day with a concert by Irakli and the Louis Ambassadors, a French jazz band. The performance, which took place in Tbilisi Conservatoire’s Grand Hall, was organized by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia, the French Embassy in Georgia and the Tbilisi State Conservatoire.
Aside from successful concerts, the Georgian jazz scene has also produced talented musicians. For example, Beka Gochiashvili, a young Georgian pianist, has gained international acclaim and performed across North America, including at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 2008.
Zerang’s visit to Georgia should continue to encourage jazz musicians and equip them with useful performance skills. The workshop begins at 7 pm on 29 May and musicians should bring their own instruments.
By Amy Jones
Image source - Wikimedia Commons