Pavel Arakelyan: “Join us – let’s jam together!”

One of the best jazzmen and saxophone players of Belaruys plans to come to the square on December 19 at 8 p.m.

An article by Pavel Arakelyan “Jam on the theme of politics” has been published by “Belorusskiye novosti” website.

- While we have little time on air, concerts, work and fair wage we have come to forget about the main thing: jazz means freedom, constant progress. We have forgotten that in the 1940-1950ies this music helped to fight for the rights of African Americans. We have forgotten that…

But we have one excuse for all political topics: a jazzman can always say that he is free personally, free without a reference to the society, as “it is a state of mind!” But as Solomon Burke preached: “We cannot be free as long as at least one of us is chained.” It means that freedom is for all. For us, for you, for every rural combiner, even for your neighbor living upstairs, when he is a honourary member of a club of “playing electric hammer drill in the evening and weekends.”

So I must confess that I am writing this article having my personal interest. I want to work in my country, and present it abroad, not explaining to impressed foreigners that we are situated “somewhere in Russia.” I want to continue artistic work basing upon my spiritual necessities, necessities of the people around, and not one person with many faces. I want to be proud of my president very much, and not go red in the face watching another forum or congress.

That is why on December 19 at 8 p.m. I shall be on the square. Join us – let’s jam togther!