Jazz as barometer for freedom

By: vetlana Dicheva, Bulgarian National Radio

Jazz fans call the little mountain town of Bansko the capital of jazz because
every year since 1998 it hosts jazz bands from across Europe. The ancient town is usually known as a winter ski resort but the summer jazz festival as well as two other music festivals held in July and August  revive the place and attract international and local public. Many jazz celebrities have participated in the previous seven editions of the festival, among them Nancy King, Steve Kristoffersen, Scott Hamilton, Igor Batman, George Garzon. Since 2004 the fest is broadcasted live on internet. Its motto is spoken in Duke Ellington's
words:"Jazz is a good barometer for freedom".
The physician Emil Illiev is chairman of "Bansko XXI Century Foundation" that brings about the festival. His jazz zeal started in his youth when the curious
boy made piano improvisations. Now there is room for improvisation only on the stage - the process of preparing the festival is time consuming and requires strictness and perseverance. Svetlana Dicheva from the Bulgarian National Radio asked Emil Illiev to summarize the results of the music event which took place from August 8 to 14.