Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's words that 'The essential things in life are seen not with the eyes, but with the heart' are true to this day: music slowly surpasses its status as an art of sounds and transforms itself into an international language, capable of creating connections between different cultures.

Kad Achouri - Lettre a Marianne

It seems that eventually 'All roads lead to people': that is why I followed an artist as if off the pages of the 'Little Prince' novel: his name is Kad Achouri and he was born 42 years ago in Mazamet, in South-Eastern France, in a family of Spanish and Algerian origins. A representative of the jazz and World Music genres, author of some songs highly influenced by the social and political context of our day - which is obvious from the title of his first two albums, 'Liberté' and 'Societé' - Kad Achouri held a concert, on November 15^th, at the French Cultural Centre in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Why is Kad Achouri so similar to Saint-Exupéry's character, but also to the famous jazz song 'Nature Boy'? First of all, his many travels: at the age of 18 he moved to Barcelona, in 2003 he takes up residence in Great Britain's capital city, to continue his activity as a composer and music producer. Then, in 2009 the artist collaborated on a compact-disc entitled 'Jazz Around the World' with musicians from New Zeeland and North African countries who sing jazz in an original manner, completely integrated in their specific cultural environment. His last discography event, ' Lettre a Marianne' released last year's summer and is inspired by the musician's childhood, family life and his travels. Is the Little Prince who Kad Achouri had in mind when he composed the album 'Letter for Marianne'? 'I have a great need for a friendship to which I can share all the little things that happen to me...Maybe I am writing to myself'.

About Buddy Bolden - an incomparable improviser

'You want to make a silent film...about jazz?' this is what Dan Pritzker, professional musician and son of an American magnate, was asked when he decided he wanted to make a film about horn player Buddy Bolden - one of the most amazing jazz musicians of the first decades of the 20^th century. From this idea - inspired by ' City Lights' the silent film by Charlie Chaplin - resulted two projects that Dan Pritzker started working on in 2007: the first is 'Louis' which was released last year and it is about the life of Louis Armstrong. The second film, titled 'Bolden!' will be released soon and stars Anthony Mackie as Buddy Bolden. The music of the film 'Bolden!' was composed by Wynton Marsalis and it recreates the atmosphere from the beginning of the 20^th century in New Orleans, where the story of the legendary musician unfolds, and who was known as an incomparable improviser. It is a story that the American Film Festivals will present at the end of this year.

Sara Tavares Concert in Sofia

And since we have talked about travels for music's sake, we must once again step on the realm of World Music genre, a realm where Sara Tavares also lives. Of Cape Verdean descent, the same as the famous Cesaria Evora, Sara Tavares was born in Portugal, in 1978, and when she was just 16 represented her native country in the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest. The young singer could be heard on Thursday, November 17^th, in Sofia, Bulgaria, in a concert organised by the Portugal Embassy. Sara Tavares - who also plays guitar or percussion instruments - recorded so far six albums and is known as an important representative of jazz and World Music genres, between which she seems to have found the perfect balance.