Trombonist and composer Georgi Kornazov premieres his new project IGNITION – a quintet where contemporary jazz meets powerful energy, lyricism, and an entirely new body of original music.
Five distinctive musicians from the Bulgarian jazz scene come together on stage:
Georgi Kornazov – trombone, compositions
Mihail Yossifov – trumpet
Vasil Spassov – piano
Vasil Hajigrudev – double bass
Atanas Popov – drums
At the heart of the project is Bulgarian Preludes – a new cycle of original compositions inspired by the Bulgarian musical language, its distinctive rhythms and melodic tradition, reimagined through the aesthetics of contemporary jazz.
The music combines improvisation, strong thematic development, and a collective sound in which each of the five musicians brings a distinctive individual voice.
Georgi Kornazov is a Bulgarian trombonist and composer with an international career, known for developing a distinctive musical language at the crossroads of Bulgarian traditions and contemporary European jazz. After studying in Sofia, he graduated with distinction from the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris, earning prestigious awards as a soloist early in his career. He has worked with leading European orchestras and artists including Vienna Art Orchestra, NDR Big Band, Orchestre National de Jazz, Phil Collins, Al Jarreau, Quincy Jones, Carla Bley, and Maria Schneider. Over the years, he has founded numerous ensembles and developed original projects exploring music inspired by both the Balkans and modern jazz. CultureJazz aptly describes him as “a universe between Bulgaria and Western jazz.”
On 23 September, the audience at In The Mood will hear Bulgarian Preludes performed live for the very first time – the premiere of this new repertoire and the first encounter with the IGNITION Quintet.