"I will long remember those days," said in an interview for Radio Bulgaria George Garzone - saxophonist, a professor at Berkeley College, after taking part in this year's Jazz Forum in Stara Zagora. Called the guru of modern jazz improvisation, he is the author of an original system, which he explained to his Bulgarian friends. And he also performed works of Bulgarian jazz composers as guest soloist with the Big Band of the Bulgarian National Radio, as well as young Bulgarian musicians.

Born in the USA in 1950, from the age of 6 he was deeply fascinated by music. He received his elementary education in Boston and his first instrument was the tenor saxophone. On the big jazz scene Garzone became popular in 1972 with the trio "The Fringe". Along with bassist John Lockwood and drummer Bob Galotti he recorded several landmark albums and toured worldwide. In his rich career, Garzone worked with stars of the magnitude of Michael Brecker, Eddie Gomez, Dennis Irwin.

George Garzone has been to Bulgaria before - to the Jazz Festival in Bansko. Also, he has heard much about this country from his Bulgarian students in Berkeley, which are quite numerous. During his stay in Bulgaria this time, he held master classes in Sofia and Stara Zagora. At the jazz forum we heard him as soloist of the Big Band of the BNR, conducted by Antoni Donchev, together with the famous jazz flutist Simeon Shterev-Banana.

In a special interview for RB's Albena Bezovska, Garzone said among his favourite Bulgarian musicians are the Donchev brothers - Antoni and Georgi, who is a former student of his. He also shared with us his impressions of another Bulgarian student - Petar Slavov-junior. And also - he speaks about Bulgaria, the festival and the wonderful atmosphere in the city of limes.

English Rossitsa Petcova