The rhythm of jazz makes me relax, a soft touch that has a classy brilliance. So the fact that more and more jazz stars are visiting Bulgaria makes me happy, and also proud, that my fellow countrymen can enjoy live jazz performances without leaving Bulgaria.

The first autumn concert this year was by the acid jazz formation Count Basic. It was also the opening of the autumnal Sofia Jazz Peak, which this year coincided with the Day of Sofia on September 17, and with the sixth birthday of Jazz FM Radio. This year’s festival started with Count Basic and will continue on with two more jazz stars.

In the National Place of Culture (NDK), Billy Cobham will play on October 24, and on November 13 jazz fans can enjoy the first live performance by the Francesco Cafiso Quartet in the country. Tickets for Cobham’s concert are currently being sold for 40, 50 and 60 leva and tickets for Cafiso’s will be on sale in the first week of October. Tickets for both concerts can be obtained at the NDK box office, Bulgaria Hall or at tickets-bg.com, eventim.bg or ticketstream.bg.

This year is the seventh that Sofia Jazz Peak has occurred. It was first held in 2003 and since then it has transformed from an annual to a twice-yearly event. Since 2006 it has taken place in the spring and in the autumn, Jazz FM Radio’s PR officer Vessela Vencheva told The Sofia Echo.

Among the names that have performed at the festival are Marcus Miller, Earth, Wind and Fire Experience and Al Jarreau. Jarreau came again in 2007 because he “fell in love with the Bulgarian audience” in 2006, Vencheva said. During his most recent visit, he performed together with the legendary George Benson.

Some of the other musicians who have played and sung at Sofia Jazz Peak are Mezzoforte, Maceo Parker, Michael Legrand, Gabin, Peter Erskine, De Phazz, Nigel Kennedy and Tasha’s World. Marcus Miller, Al Jarreau, George Benson, De Phazz, Gabin, Maceo Parker and Peter Erskine have come to Bulgaria only for this music event.

Billy Cobham, the next performer scheduled to fill Hall 1 of the National Palace of Culture with sound, is coming to Sofia for first time; it will be his second time in Bulgaria. (He has played in Plovdiv.)

For more than 30 years, Cobham has received international recognition as the perfect percussionist. He studied at New York’s High School of Music and Arts and his career began soon after he graduated. Cobham started recording with Miles Davis in 1969, while at the same time he was playing with Les McCann and Junior Mance. In addition, Cobham is one of the founders of one of the first fusion bands, called Dreams. Further, he played in John McLaughlin’s Mahavishnu Orchestra.

In 1973, Cobham recorded one of his legendary albums, Spectrum. At that time, one of his band mates was the Bulgarian piano virtuoso Milcho Leviev.

That same year he recorded a second album, Shabazz, at the Montreux Jazz Festival.

Cobham was a frequent guest of Montreux and in the mid-70s he recorded many live albums, most famous of which is Live In Europe with George Duke. In 1985 appeared the fantastic albums Warning and Power Play.

During his career, Cobham has performed live in America, Europe and Japan and has recorded in many countries, including Israel, Chile and Australia. At the Sofia Jazz Peak he will present Culture Mix – one of the eight projects on which he is simultaneously working.

Next during the festival comes Francesco Cafiso Quartet. Cafiso is one of the fastest developing young talents in the history of jazz. At only 29 years old, he has already worked with world-famous musicians. In 2003, Cafiso met Wynton Marsalis; this was the breakpoint of his career. Marsalis invited Cafiso to join his European tour, where the young jazz musician had the possibility to play in some of the most prestigious halls and cities in Europe.

Later Cafiso practised in New Orleans with Ellis Marsalis, Jason Marsalis, Morris Brown and many other important local musicians. In 2005 the Japanese music magazine Swing gave Cafiso its New Star award. He has won various other prizes: the Massimo Urbani Award in Urbisaglia, the EuroJazz Award in Lecco, the International Jazz Festivals Organization Award in New York, the World Saxophone Competition in London and the Django d’Or in Rome.