Embassy News

Jazz Duo Returns To Turkmenistan For American Culture Days 2007

PAS No 185
July 6, 2007

Ari Roland and Chris Byars performing with Turkmen musicians

Ashgabat, July 6, 2006 – Today, the U.S. Embassy in Turkmenistan, in cooperation with Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Culture and TV/Radio Broadcasting, opened its annual American Culture Days with a joint Turkmenistan-U.S. concert at Ashgabat’s Magtymguly State Music and Drama Theater.  The concert featured the return of two American jazz musicians making their second trip to Turkmenistan, Ari Roland and Chris Byars.

Other performances will be held on July 7 in Kemine State Drama Theater in Mary City, on July 9 in Seydi Music Drama Theater in Turkmenabat City, and on July 11 in the Saparmyrat Turkmenbashy the Great State Drama Theater in Balkanabat City.  All performances begin at 19:00 and are free and open to the public.

Ari Roland and Chris Byars originally visited Turkmenistan in April with the Ari Roland Quartet, a group of New York-based jazz musicians.  The quartet performed in Turkmenistan as part of a regional tour that included appearances in Russia and several Central Asian countries in honor of Jazz Appreciation Month.  After receiving a warm reception from local audiences and musicians, Roland and Byars expressed an interest in returning to Turkmenistan.  As a result, the U.S. Embassy invited them to return for U.S. Independence Day and American Culture Days 2007.

Every year, U.S. diplomatic missions abroad organize activities around U.S. Independence Day – July 4 – to acquaint citizens of other countries with U.S. culture and heritage.