TOMORROW’S WARRIORS IN ARMENIA
By Tamar Minasian

AZG Armenian Daily
30/03/2006

The British Council in Armenia in collaboration with British jazz
musicians Gary Crosby and Abram Wilson has organized a four day
workshop with talented young Armenian jazz musicians as part of the
“Tomorrow’s Warriors” education programme from 27 to 30 March.

The Armenian and the British musicians will perform at “Avant-Garde”
Folk Jazz Club. The workshop will focus on honing technique, developing
improvisation skills and broadening repertoire. The leaders of the
programme will work with the local music leaders to share knowledge
and pass on skills so that the development process may continue after
the tutors have returned to London.

“Tomorrow’s Warriors” is a non-profit organization established in
1992 by original Jazz Warriors double bassist, Gary Crosby to develop
young talented jazz musicians. The organization helped to incubate such
names as Courtney Pine, Gary Crosby, Steve Williamson and many others.

Mr. Crosby highly estimates the professional skills of the young
Armenian musicians. Today, Mr. Crosby and Mr. Wilson will perform
with Anush Apoyan, Artyom Manukian, Artur Grigorian, Artur Nazarian,
David Tatevosian, Gevorg Khechoyan, Manuk Ghazarian and Hamlet
Sharoyan. “They are brilliant musicians, they just need to develop,”
Crosby stated in the interview to Azg.

The musicians are going to perform about 10 pieces each evening. There
are pieces that will be performed exclusively by the Armenian
musicians.

As for development of jazz in the world, Mr. Crosby said that jazz
remains a club music everywhere. “Jazz is a spirit. One needs to love
it, to love the music and play it. When you play jazz your soul gets
richer,” Crosby said.

Mr. Crosby pins big hopes on “Tomorrow’s Warriors.”

“There should be individuals that want to develop and promote jazz
everywhere, ” he said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress