“He would cross the town with this red T-shirt on, waving his heart around. Usually he would return from his morning swim, full of energy. Jazz was his thing, his passion, as it most naturally expressed his free spirit” – words of Iglika Peeva, coming from an essay from the book on Petar Petrov – The Free Spirit’s Flight. A 2006 interview with the musician he gave for Radio Bulgaria is also published in the book.

The man received classical music education in Bulgaria and later specialized abroad. Then he worked as a clarinet player with the Ruse Philharmonic from 1957 up to his retirement. In 1959 he gathered his first jazz orchestra and later on he established the Petrovs Jazz Quartet. Everyone in the formation carried the same family name – Petar Petrov /sax/, Petar Petrov – Petuha /trumpet/, Zlatko Petrov /double bass/ and Ilko Petrov /drums/. Then The Piece became the leader of the Ruse Orchestra that had numerous concerts in Bulgaria and abroad – Mexico, Russia, Poland, Hungary, India, Italy etc. The man was a clarinet, a saxophone player and a lecturer at the same time. His colleagues honored him for his strong relation with the stage, the enthusiasm of an organizer and the near-to-fanatic support for Bulgarian performers. The latter was carried out through the interesting programs, offered by his Jazz club with the Club of Cultural Activists in Ruse. Then we had the annual jazz festival, established in 1977. Petar Petrov used to say that at least 4 generations of boys and girls had found their way thanks to those forums. He was proud to mention the names of famous musicians who had received their first applause by the Ruse audience - Yıldız İbrahimova, Theodosii Spasov, Kamelia Todorova, Antoni Donchev etc.

The last edition of the festival was in November 2012. Petar Petrov passed away 2 months later – on 24 January 2013. Here is an excerpt of an interview for Radio Bulgaria from 2006:

“Working days are the most important thing to me, and I mean constant concert activity. On one hand this keeps the musicians in good shape, on the other – it maintains the interest of the public. We are more than grateful to the Ruse Municipality which helps us in keeping this regular concert activity with the club and also with the festival’s organization. The Jazz Club was established more than 3 decades ago. It is a center of light and spirit, attracting writers, poets and men of intellect. We have been constantly inviting young Bulgarian musicians – soloists of the BNR’s Big Band. The first participants in the Jazz Club’s program and in the festival are now retired. Several generations found their way through the joy, content and pleasure of music. However, education is important as well and that is what I always say to my son Boris and to all young performers – art starts where the perfect study of the craft ends. Children’s music workshops, a music high school and a music academy – that is the way… Then with God’s blessing you might get lucky in making something big. Although everything has already been spoken in music for a long time.”

Today the club continues with its activity and so does the festival. Petar Petrov’s son – Boris Petrov-Parcheto is the artistic director of the forum. He and several cultural activists from Ruse have established a foundation by the name of Petar Petrov.

English version: Zhivko Stanchev