A few years ago a remarkable saxophone player appeared on the Bulgarian jazz scene. The young Spaniard immediately won over the audience with his talent of swiftly “entering” different projects, without losing his original musical presence. Today, he is playing with one of the most well-known Bulgarian jazz musicians and has been a part of the BNR Big Band for the last two seasons.

“I am happy to be in Bulgaria, I have friendswith whom I share music and interesting conversations. It would be belittling to say that I only like the people, nature, the Bulgarian summer and the local food. What I love the most are the mineral springs, which can be found across the whole country, even in Sofia’s city centre and the surrounding areas,” says Arnau Garrofé Farràs.

Born near Barcelona, he has been playing since a young age. He plays various instruments but is most impressed by the saxophone’s timbre. After a long-lasting entreaties on his behalf, his parents finally stepped back and at the age of 16 Arnau received his first saxophone.

“From this moment onwards I could not stop, I was playing constantly,” he remembers. “I started studying in my town, but since I wanted to learn some theory and orchestration, I continued my studies in Barcelona. I wasfortunate to be part of the class of a magnificent teacher in a very good school of jazz and modern music. That was when I also started my first band. We were kids, but we had countless performances and gained a lot of experience. After graduating from the Music pedagogy program, I carried onto the jazz path. I studied in the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague for four years and then took a Master’s degree for two more years in Rotterdam. Then I decided to “break the routine” and travelled for more than a year around Asia without the saxophone, but just a single clarinet. I played with numerous people and met new friends. That is also how I met my wife who is Bulgarian. We fell in love and went on to travel together, eventually settling in Bulgaria.”

Some months later Arnau received his first invitation for official participation here - in a project guided by Petar Georgiev (ака Pesho Kitarata). Despite having multiple pieces of his own, which could be compiled into an independent program, the saxophonist still prefers the projects in which he has been taking part for the past few years.

“The first one is Jazz Cats by drummer HristoYotsov. He is something like a father to me here, in Bulgaria. I have been a part of the “Jazz Cats” for more than three years now. There is positive energy between us - and “on-stage rapport” as well. We have had numerous concerts - in Bulgaria, in Barcelona, in Bucharest…

I am also playing with Ritmos Negros - an Afro-Peruvian program that we presented on the A to Jazz festival, as well as on Glastonbury Festival in England.

Apart from this, I am participating in the project “Ecology” of double bass player DimitarKaramfilov, and am also playing with the famous trumpeter MishoYosifov. I am currently taking part in MONTUNO.BG, led by KrasiZhelyazkov(founder of the Balkan Horses Band, which has gained recognition in Europe), which combines jazz and Bulgarian folk music. I feel very well among the musicians from the BNR Big Band conducted by Antoni Donchev. I am happy with my friends here and with their music.”

One of Arnau’s Bulgarian adventures is Bulgarian folklore. He has been studying it in his own manner.

“As a musician, I am always trying to push my horizons further. I am trying to go deeper into Bulgarian folklore and that’s why I am now learning how to play the kaval (a traditional wooden flute). During the period of the lockdown, I finally had enough time to practice. If I have to make a comparison of all instruments I have experience with, I would say the kaval is the most difficult to learn. I am practicing mostly on my own, by also my good friend Nedyalko Nedyalkov - a soloist in the BNR’s Folk Music Orchestra - gives me advice.”

The musician is convinced that the Bulgarian folklore tradition carries an unsuspected depth and wisdom, and it has to find its worthy followers in the new generation. “It is an egregious fortune. It’s not only about the odd time signatures. They are indeed complex and hard to master, nevertheless it’s not impossible. The manner of performance, the ornamentation - these are the main contributors to the authenticcolouring and character of Bulgarian folk music. The old performers have to be listened to, but there are fewer and fewer of them. It’s just like with the masters of the folk instruments and all this constitutes an irreplaceable part of the tradition.”

English version Boris Totchev