MUSIC: Georgian jazz singer Maia Baratashvili takes the prize in Monte Carlo

By Diana Dundua

Messenger, February 22: Georgian singer Maia Baratashvili won the award for best female vocalist 2007 at the Monte Carlo International Jazz Awards.
Baratashvili submitted her latest album, “Maya,” to a board of European judges for consideration, and fought off competition from the UK, the US and Italy.
She will now perform a solo set at the awards gala in Monte Carlo.“
It will consist of three parts,” the singer explained. “
An exhibition of modern French photographers with photos on jazz, then my solo performance and finally an after party attended by the Monte Carlo elite.”
Baratashvili has been a member of the Tbilisi Municipality Concert Orchestra since 1998 and has been performing jazz for the past 13 years.“
[She] never imitates anyone and creates her own style,” Iura Vachnadze of Radio Liberty said at a February 19 press conference in Tbilisi where Baratashvili discussed her award.
Gaioz Kandelaki, the founder of the Tbilisi Municipality Concert Orchestra, said she deserves her success. “Every concert for Maia is a huge responsibility and she puts all her strength into each of them,” Kandelaki remarked.

Maya Baratashvili with the Tbilisi Concert Orchestra, conducted by Givi Gachechiladze, at the Tbilisi Jazz Festival, 2006. From: shvilishvili

Since her youth Maia Baratashvili has been captivating audiences with her powerful and emotive voice. Trained in a classical music education at Tbilisi's leading performing arts college, Maia moved into Jazz in 1995 as part of "David's Jazz Soul Club" opened in Tbilisi her home town. Since then she has gone on to perform as a soloist with the Tbilisi Municipal Jazz Orchestra, the Georgian State Symphony Orchestra, and numerous jazz ensembles.
She has performed throughout Europe impressing crowds in Moscow with Igor Brill and his trio, at the International Jazz Event in the capital cities of Latvia and Lithuania with Jorn Skogheim, Norwegian composer and guitar player, and back in Tbilisi at the numerous International Jazz Festivals together with jazz greats like George Duke, Mikhail Okunne, where she successfully combined the capacities of featured guest and Master of Ceremony.
She has released four CDs and won several prizes for her works.

Homepage: www.maia.ge

Myspace: www.myspace.com/maiabaratashvili

Since her youth Maia Baratashvili has been captivating audiences with her powerful and emotive voice. Trained in a classical music education at Tbilisi's leading performing arts college, Maia moved into Jazz in 1995 as part of "David's Jazz Soul Club" opened in Tbilisi her home town. Since then she has gone on to perform as a soloist with the Tbilisi Municipal Jazz Orchestra, the Georgian State Symphony Orchestra, and numerous jazz ensembles.
She has performed throughout Europe impressing crowds in Moscow with Igor Brill and his trio, at the International Jazz Event in the capital cities of Latvia and Lithuania with Jorn Skogheim, Norwegian composer and guitar player, and back in Tbilisi at the numerous International Jazz Festivals together with jazz greats like George Duke, Mikhail Okunne, where she successfully combined the capacities of featured guest and Master of Ceremony.