Dini

PRESS CORNER: “Dini Virsaladze is one of the unique artists with a gift of creative duality, combining the art of a performer on the stage and the feeling of musical joy beyond it.When Dini touches the keyboard, it feels like she is only playing for herself amid the universe of sound. This is the moment of creating beautiful melodies, natural harmonies and improvisations. The refined taste and inner culture, tenderness and inspiration are always present in Dini's musical dialogue with the audience anywhere she performs – in jazz clubs or big music halls, at festivals or concerts. Every time I listen to Dini's performance, I realize that this talented pianist's creative potential is unbounded and full of delightful surprises awaiting us.I wish Dini every success and believe that her accomplishments will reinforce the rich traditions of Georgian jazz.”Nodar Mamisashvili Composer, Professor of Music Theory, Professor of Conservatoire, Member of Georgian National Academy, President of Holo studio, Coordinator of Centre of Sound Ecology. ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ “Alone at the piano, close to the audience Dinara Virsaladze, a surprise pianist from Georgia makes audience wonder…” Minden (rgr).The performance by a jazz pianist Dinara ( "Dini") Virsaladze proved to be an excellent choice for a musical conclusion to the exhibition of the award-winning jazz photographer Jimi Katz.Among the photographs of her famous New Yorker colleague musicians on the walls of the Spiegel gallery, ensconced behind the piano the Georgian artist enchanted the audience with her wonderful solo performance. Powerful chords, driving bass lines and sparkling arpeggios showed her strength as previously did her orchestral playing. From Duke Ellington to blues to Antonio Carlos Jobim she sometimes seemed to be totally immersed in her interpretations.Jobim's "One Note Samba" gets a fine touch of swing, and the harmonica composition "Bluesette" by Toots Thielemans – becomes perfectly adapted for piano. Alongside familiar phrases her improvisations of jazz standards show profound imaginative thought of her own. Sometimes one can feel a wider and occasionally almost classical approach under which however, the lightness of swing is somewhat lost.But there is nothing wrong with it, it's just a little bit different. Her classical background showed quite strongly in her jazzy interpretation of a well-known Georgian song.Interesting sound pictures, opposing moodsAlthough her own compositions, written for her band, are not so easily adaptable for solo piano performance, she nevertheless played few of them - a mature and complex piece of work indeed. This is especially true of the ballad "My Loving Sadness" with its unique identity, fascinating sound patterns, opposing voices and moods.The audience responded with grateful applause to the wonderful and impressive evening. The concert made German jazz fans very much intrigued by Dini Virsaladze's work, and aroused their interest in the relatively unknown Georgian jazz scene."By Rolf Graff January 5, 2008 ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ Dini performs at various concerts & events at the Tbilisi Conservatoire, Philharmonic Theatre, Opera house, Rustaveli Theatre and other music halls, participates in TV shows and radio productions. Dini is a frequent guest of Radio Syndicate 104.3 and has been invited to one of the famous jazz programs "Jazoterapia" in a live broadcast.Listen to Dini's performances at "Non Stop", Tbilisi Jazz Club & "The Blues Brothers" with different jazz groups and musicians.Dini is looking forward to record with a jazz singer, colleague and a good friend Tony O'Malley.Dini Virsaladze Trio features Dini on keyboard, Lasha Abashmadze on bass guitar and Nika Abashmadze on drums.------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ BIOGRAPHY:Dinara (Dini) Virsaladze, a famous Georgian pianist, born in Tbilisi (Republic of Georgia), studied piano at Tbilisi Music School for Gifted Children and graduated from Tbilisi State Conservatoire (faculty of piano - Professor Tina Gogolashvili, faculty of organ - Professor Eter Mgaloblishvili). After graduating from the Conservatoire she began working in a chamber orchestra as a pianist and harpsichord player under principal conductor Vadim Shubladze. Her career continued as a concert-master at the vocal department of the Conservatoire and with Tbilisi Chamber Orchestra as a harpsichord player, where she also served as a manager. Dini Virsaladze appeared before the audience as a jazz pianist and a composer for the first time in 1993. The same year she participated in Novosibirsk Jazz Festival that significantly changed the life of a young musician. She performed in numerous jazz clubs and cafés and appeared in various TV shows. She was an author and a host of a Jazz TV show on TV channel “Iberia” for some time. In a very short period of time Dini attracted attention of many jazz fans and professional musicians, among them Ms. Ia Akhobadze. “Working at Jazz Club which opened in Tbilisi in 1995, listening to many famous musicians and playing in Jam Sessions with them, significantly enriched Dini’s performance, bringing it to perfection. This became obvious at Margarita Festival /Competition in 1996 where Dini was awarded as the best keyboard player. Everyone, who is acquainted with Dini's performance, recognizes her as the first Georgian female jazz musician who occupies an important place in Georgian national history of jazz", wrote Ms. Ia Akhobadze. Composer Nukri Abashidze says: "Dini’s music is characteristic of beautiful melody, rich harmony and high spirituality. She belongs to unique female Jazz musicians and is an exceptional composer, as well as an excellent improvisor and an outstanding performer with unique skills." Since 2003 she has been performing with Tbilisi Big Band under conductor Givi Gachechiladze. Tbilisi Big Band was awarded The Best Big Band 2006 honor in Monte-Carlo in 2006. The board of directors of the Monte-Carlo International Jazz Awards (MCIJA) expressed its special gratitude to Mrs. Dini Virsaladze, a keyboard player, to acknowledge her valuable contribution to the Tbilisi Municipality Concert Orchestra (the Big Band) and for promoting jazz worldwide. Nowadays, Dini plays keyboard at jazz club "Non-Stop" with Lasha Abashmadze - Bass and Nika Abashmadze - Drums and participates in many different concerts at the Tbilisi Conservatoire, Philharmony, Opera house, Rustaveli Theatre and other music halls. In her album "Mysterious" Dini Virasaldze appears together with many musicians. All pieces were composed by her during different periods of time, so they are absolutely unique in style, character and performance. “Voyage” was the first composition written for this album. In "Mysterious" and "March” Dini Virsaladze plays piano and leads vocal. Gia Makharadze, Nodar Ekvtimishvili - bass, David Azirashvili - guitar, Gia Salagishvili, Gia Tetradze - drums, David Japaridze - percussion, Kakha Jagashvili - saxophone, Nukri Abashidze - arranger and composer, are featuring in this album. If you did not know, Dini is a talented artist. Her beautiful paintings have been exhibited at the Museum of the History of Tbilisi “Karvasla”, Art Club “Gircha”, Jazz Club “Atinati”, Art Club “Lost Paradise”, “Underground Theatre” & “House of Jazz”. She has also worked as a model with designer Maka Natsvlishvili between 1994 & 1995.

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