VZCZCXRO1802
RR RUEHAST RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHMRE RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR
RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHAH #0737/01 2060927
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 250927Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9056
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUCNOSC/OSCE POST COLLECTIVE
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 0451
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 0473
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 2161
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0910
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0958
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASHGABAT 000737 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN (SNELSIRE), SCA/PPD (BLOCKER), ECA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL KPAO KCUL TX
SUBJECT: ARI ROLAND DUO RETURNS FOR EXUBERANT TURKMEN-AMERICAN 
PROGRAM 
 
REFERENCE: A) ASHGABAT 565; B) ASHGABAT 466 
 
SUMMARY 
 
¶1.  (U) Jazz musicians Ari Roland and Chris Byars helped post create 
an outstanding success in cultural diplomacy.  After a suspenseful 
and challenging program in April, post was pleased to bring back 
Roland and Byars for a July jazz outreach program that broke 
cultural barriers, renewed old ties, and set the stage for post's 
first cultural program in the city of Balkanabat.  Host government 
reaction was notably positive and helpful this time around -- with 
good media coverage of the program and more favorable coordination 
between the Ministry of Culture and provincial culture departments 
and governors' offices.  The return of Roland and Byars allowed post 
a longer, richer program of cultural diplomacy that included cities 
not reached in the April program.  Joint performances with local 
musicians and the incorporation of Turkmen music dramatically 
expanded the program's impact.  Post enthusiastically thanks SCA/PPD 
and the Educational and Cultural Affairs Bureau for their support of 
this program and the Jazz at Lincoln Center program for its sound 
choice of musicians.  END SUMMARY. 
 
AN ELECTRIFYING ?HOMECOMING? 
 
¶2.  (U) Based on the public enthusiasm generated by the Ari Roland 
Quartet in April (reftel A), post invited half the Quartet back to 
work closely with Turkmen artists on joint concerts in celebration 
of U.S. Independence Day.  Since the July program took place outside 
the school year, post did not make the difficult request to meet 
music students.  The Ministry of Culture also denied post's request 
to have Roland and Byars meet with local state-employed musicians - 
yet this did not reduce attendance at the evening concerts and day 
seminars with youth held in Ashgabat, Mary, Turkmenabat and 
Balkanabat. 
 
¶3.  (U) Following a performance of traditional jazz pieces at the 
official July 4 reception with two local musicians, Roland and Byars 
began rehearsals with five musicians nominated by the Ministry of 
Culture.  In contrast with post's experience in April, the Ministry 
approved the July program in record time (one day), placed newspaper 
ads for all public performances in a timely manner, and solicited 
names from post of local musicians to work with the Duo.  The local 
musicians -- three experienced musicians and two up-and-coming 
recent conservatory graduates -- proved their jazz credentials 
beyond post's hopes, allowing the group to quickly develop a mixed, 
U.S. and Turkmen musical repertoire for performance.  The musicians 
played several traditional Turkmen and several jazz pieces using 
piano, string bass, saxophone, congo drums, traditional drums, 
electric guitar, and voice. 
 
¶4.  (U) The group's first public performance, on July 6 in Ashgabat 
for an excited audience of about 500, was simply amazing.  Not only 
had the U.S. musicians mastered very complex local rhythms but the 
group also emanated a cohesion and respect for one another that 
showed through in an electrifying performance of jazz. (NOTE: 
Following the Ashgabat performance, three of the five local 
musicians, with post financial support, toured with Roland and Byars 
for three regional performances -- the vocalist, keyboardist and 
drummer.  END NOTE.) 
 
MARY, TURKMENABT: LOCAL OFFICIALS HELP WHERE THEY CAN 
 
¶5.  (U) In Mary, the site of previous difficulties with host 
government control of post's cultural events (reftel B) local 
officials were responsive and helpful on the day of the concert -- 
though as previously, Mary authorities denied public advertising of 
the concert through the American Corner.  The local government 
ordered 400 state employees to attend the concert, which ironically 
helped the program reach a different audience -- local government 
bureaucrats.  Theater staff started registering every person 
entering the theater including American Corner visitors -- but 
theater personnel ceased this activity upon Emboff's request, and 
after obtaining the blessing of the local governor's office. 
Embassy staff observed many traditionally-dressed older members of 
the crowd warm to the performance, eventually smiling, laughing and 
clapping at clever musical points and the mixing of Turkmen with 
American musical styles.  Many audience members personally thanked 
Embassy staff and the musicians expressed their thanks for bringing 
the concert to Mary.  Theater staff took the initiative to record 
the music and provided copies to the group.  About 30 American 
Corner visitors attended the evening concert, having met the band at 
the Corner for a jazz workshop in the afternoon that drew about 35 
 
ASHGABAT 00000737  002 OF 003 
 
 
teenagers. 
 
¶6.  (U) In Turkmenabat on July 9, the Ari Roland ?Turkmen-American 
Quintet? continued to have a visibly positive impact on audiences, 
both at the afternoon American Corner seminar and concert.  Local 
officials even guaranteed seats for the local American Corner's 
staff and visitors at the concert venue -- which almost filled to 
its 400-500 seat capacity.  The officials visibly enjoyed the 
program, especially the jazz-styled Turkmen melodies which were 
quickly becoming the group's trademark songs.  Again audience 
members directly expressed their appreciation of the program to 
embassy staff and the musicians. 
 
MAIDEN VOYAGE TO BALKANABAT 
 
¶7.  (U) The July 11 concert in Balkanabat was post's first 
large-scale public event in the capital of Balkan region.  The 
recent reopening of Balkan's Internet Access and Training Program 
(IATP) site assisted post considerably in advertising the event to 
local youth; about 40 secondary school youth and parents attended an 
afternoon workshop at the theater and stayed for the concert.  In 
addition, Emboff visited two local bazaars in the afternoon before 
the show, handing out and posting fliers in Turkmen and Russian to 
shoppers and salespeople.  Most requested the Turkmen language 
flier, and were initially skeptical that such a concert was truly 
free and open to the public.  (NOTE:  As the IATP site administrator 
later told Emboff, recent cultural events sponsored by other foreign 
embassies were either not publicly advertised or were not well 
enough advertised to appear open to all.  END NOTE.) 
 
¶8.  (U) As in Mary and Turkmenabat, well-known local musicians 
attended the pre-concert sound check and workshop.  However in 
contrast to the prior concerts, the workshop attendees became an 
integral part of the band for the evening performance, adding 
elements of traditional bakshi singing and gyjak (a three stringed 
guitar-like instrument) to the performance.  The head of the 
National Cultural Center of Balkan region even suggested that Roland 
incorporate some explanatory comments about jazz and its history 
into the evening concert because he had found this additional 
information enriched the workshop.  (NOTE:  Helpful, independent 
suggestions are rare from government officials.  END NOTE.)  For the 
concert, the quintet introduced the popular folk piece "Kush Depti," 
provoking gasps of recognition from the audience and tangible 
excitement that American musicians could play this well-known 
Turkmen piece.  Encouraged by the turnout, post intends to more 
regularly program Balkanabat into cultural and educational outreach 
events, especially since the city is now home to a luxurious new 
500-seat state theater where there had previously been no such 
venue. 
 
SIGNIFICANT TV COVERAGE 
 
¶9.  (U) The various concerts received favorable TV coverage during 
evening news cultural segments.  A longer feature on State TV4 also 
included extensive interview material with Roland, Byars and their 
local co-performers, as well as an interview with PAO emphasizing 
the benefits of cooperation, exchange, creativity, diversity and an 
improved U.S.-Turkmenistan relationship (septel). 
 
ALBUM RELEASE? 
 
¶10.  (U) Post now hopes to further the program's impact by using the 
professional quality recordings from concerts in Mary and Balkanabat 
for publication of CDs for free distribution.  The CDs will also be 
offered to key government contacts as an example of what can be 
achieved when Americans and Turkmens have the opportunity to work 
directly with one another.  The Public Affairs Section is obtaining 
formal permission from the musicians for this publication and 
distribution. 
 
COMMENT 
 
¶11.  (U) In Turkmenistan, persistence usually pays off -- as was 
clear during 2007 American Culture Days.  The host government's 
desire to control as always hampered post's planning and outreach 
but also assisted by providing no-cost suitable venues in each city. 
 In addition, the Government's notion in April that ?Turkmens do not 
understand jazz,? has firmly been put to rest. 
 
¶12.  (U) Public response was unabashedly positive -- particularly 
because the program showcased non-ethnic Turkmen traditions and 
ideas while paying respect to local traditions.  Local musicians 
 
ASHGABAT 00000737  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
expressed gratitude for this brief opportunity for professional 
exchange and have asked for further such opportunities.  Post hopes 
to expand on exchanges for local musicians and artists.  Noting the 
significant and enthusiastic response to the joint Turkmen-American 
aspect of the program, post will seek to maximize the interactive 
nature of future cultural programming. 
 
¶13.  (U) Post also recognizes that the return of Roland and Byars, 
already familiar with Turkmenistan and familiar to audiences, 
provided additional impact.  In a society with a heavy emphasis on 
relationships, the duo's return to Turkmenistan added to the warm 
?welcome back? approach from the public and official circles.  As a 
result, post hopes to leverage -- when appropriate -- return trips 
for future program visitors.  END COMMENT 
 
¶14.  (U) Dushanbe minimize considered. 
 
HOAGLAND