The answers from Dimitar Roussev – guitarist, founder and organizer of the forum.

“The first edition of the festival was in 1997,” says Dimitar Roussev. “It can definitely be said this is a festival dedicated to “pure” jazz, as the programme features only soloists and formations performing this kind of jazz. The first few years were difficult. When I tried to raise money I had to explain my idea over and over again. But a few years later people had come to realize the festival really was a worthwhile endeavor and should be supported. This year we have the greatest number of participants from abroad. We have visiting exhibitions – from the Czech Republic and Hungary, thanks to the cultural institutions in those countries. I am happy to say that the trio coming from Poland with leader Wawrzyniec Prasek has one legendary member – double bass player Piotr Rodovicz, chairman of the Polish Jazz Association. I remember in the 1970s and 1980s when I had to comb through record shops to look for their music - it was a difficult thing back then. It is simply astonishing to have a performer of such stature playing in Haskovo. It is a great honour to be welcoming acclaimed trombone player Conrad Herwig who will be taking part in the festival with the assistance of the US embassy in Bulgaria. He will be taking part in seven events, including in Sofia and in Plovdiv and will be playing in Haskovo on 30 September. From Turkey we shall be welcoming Dr. Melih Güzel, organizer of a jazz festival in his own country. The programme also features a solo event by David Six from Austria. As a matter of fact the first time we had international performers was in 1998, and again they were from Austria – a superb big band.”

The young Bulgarian band Hot Club de Plovdiv played on the first festival day, and on 27 September, the programme featured a quartet with leader drummer Stefan Goranov. Goranov graduated jazz in the Netherlands and has released an album recorded there together with Prands Kentra Trio.

Here is Dimitar Roussev again with more about the Bulgarian performers at Haskovo Jazz, 2016:

“Vassil Petrov and Stanislav Arabadjiev Trio will have a concert on 30 September. Actually, Vassil sang at the opening 20 years ago, he is a great friend of the festival and takes part in it whenever he can. The Fusion Jazz Project with the participation of Nikolai Ivanov OM will be playing on 1 October in memory of Theodor Petkov-Theo, a young drummer who passed away this year. I have also invited Svetlin Staikov Quintet from Plovdiv. And one more highlight – the Acoustic Jazz Trio from Dimitrovgrad shall mark its 30th anniversary, a formation I myself have been playing with for 15 years. We shall be presenting the same programme at the Autumn Music Days in Dimitrovgrad.”

The audio features the following pieces:

- When the fun gets going, Dimitar Roussev;

- Jimi’s sweets, Stefan Goranov with the Prands Kentra Trio;

- Along together, Vassil Petrov and Stanislav Arabadjiev Trio.

English version: Milena Daynova