Hailing from Azerbaijan, then New Orleans by way of New York, Amina Figarova is an internationally influenced—and recognized—composer, pianist, and bandleader. Her roles come to the forefront with her sextet band and with a remarkable chemistry that brings her detailed arrangements to life. Every member of the group stands out, but their dedication to Figarova’s eclectic and powerful compositions gives the group its depth of feeling.

In 2018, Amina composed a suite for a South African children’s choir and her sextet, which was performed at the “Joy of Jazz” Festival in Johannesburg, South Africa with a student choir from Soweto. Her aspiration was to record this masterpiece with the choir, but due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, it was impossible. However, fate intervened when Amina and Bart found themselves on the same flight from Europe to NYC with the Matsiko World Orphan Choir from Liberia. After conversing with the choir director, they decided to perform and record music together that was originally intended for South Africa.

The choir consists of 24 orphaned and at-risk children from Liberia in West Africa. They are spending 10 months performing at jazz festivals and venues with the Amina Figarova Sextet, and churches across the USA, where they will perform to gain 1,000 educational sponsors for their siblings, friends and families.