His passion for jazz music started in Prishtina, while his dream for a successful career as a guitarist in this music genre, Taulant Mehmeti is living in New York.
Nearly 10 years ago Taulant came to America with a big goal, to conquer the biggest scenes in what he calls the world jazz capital.
“I have always had a great passion for music since I was 10 years old. My brothers had a hobby of music, so I have been lucky to meet some very nice people who helped me on my journey to New York in America. New York is the center of jazz. The best musicians who have ever lived on our planet, and others who still alive, are located in New York. “That’s why I dreamed of coming here, a dream that I realized with a lot of work”, says Taulant for Atlantiku.
Considering the fact that Kosovo is not known for this musical genre, Taulant tells how his interest in Jazz music started.
“Jazz music is not heard much in Kosovo, because it is not cultivated much. But there was the Jazz music festival organized by Ilir Bajri, who is one of the best Albanian pianists. I went to that festival when I was 14 or 15 years old. That festival helped me a lot, there I saw some jazz bands that inspired me, because this is a very complicated stream. It is not easy to do jazz. You need to be very informed and educated. “In that festival, my love for jazz was born”, he says.
A decade later, the 30-year-old is found with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in music, lecturing in several American schools and one of the most sought-after jazz music artists in New York.
But, the journey so far was not easy for the jazz guitarist, Taulant Mehmeti.
“I was lucky enough to have lessons with the guitarist Armend Xhaferi. That was the biggest impetus in my career. My parents have also supported me. The beginning has been very difficult. But if you work and really want the dream you have, you succeed. Then I won some scholarships, and everything became easier. New York is a place where there are many opportunities. “For me it is the best place in the world”, he adds.
The mixture of jazz with Balkan rhythms makes the music he creates special, rhythms that are difficult for many jazz artists to perform, but not for Mehmeti.
“Balkan rhythms are very special, very specific. Americans find it difficult to keep up with that pace. I have harmony with that music. You can not escape from who you are. “I grew up with those rhythms and now when creating my music, I include those rhythms as well.”
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Following this style, Taulant realized the album entitled “Song to my brother” launched two years ago, a project that has been extremely well received by jazz lovers.
In the same spirit will be the next album by the jazz guitarist, which is expected to be published by the end of this year.
“I’m in the process of recording another album last year with a guitarist I once dreamed of just meeting. I was a fan of that guitarist many years before I came to America. I was lucky enough to study with him at school. He is Peter Bernstein, one of the best guitarists in the world. I recorded my lab trio in collaboration with him. “I am now in the process of publishing it,” says Taulant for Atlantiku.
For the Albanian jazz guitarist, music is more than a passion.
“I make music with a lot of passion. It seems long to me if I do not play the guitar for 10 minutes. I like to perform for hours during the day. I hope my music makes people feel good. Music is a very good therapy. Many of us do not know this. Especially us who are from Kosovo, with war traumas and many other problems we have. As they say, music has saved me. My goal is to perform and travel more. Share my music with others and take from other people’s music. “I hope to live a life in peace, without wars, but with music”, says Taulant.
He urges young artists not to hesitate if they contact him if they have any questions or need help in their jazz career.
“Do not give up. When I succeeded, others an succeed too. Do not listen to others. They tried to demotivate me. They said to me ‘oh are you going to make music? You will end up making wedding music ‘.
“It is very important to have a positive community close to you,” adds Taulant for Atlantiku.
In Mehmet’s plans is also the realization of a workshop, or even a program where jazz artists from New York will have the opportunity to perform in Kosovo, and also well-known bands in Kosovo, to have the opportunity to perform in front of the New York public.
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