Famous Armenian jazzman Levon Malkhasian (Malkhas) is 60 today. The masterly pianist, who has had concerts is over 40 countries of the world and whom many people in Armenia call the founder of jazz in Armenia, does not consider he is the same. In today's interview to Aravot newspaper he said that he can be considered the founder of small jazz bands but not the father of jazz in Armenia. He recollects his predecessors with gratitude. As different from all other soviet republics, where jazz had been prohibited for long time, famous jazzmen - BB King, Max Gerger and other - went on tour to Armenia already in 60-70s. "We played a 5-hour jam session with BB King's group in the hall of Ani hotel," Malkhas recalls. He is proud of having fulfilled his dream - an international jazz festival in Yerevan in 1998. Today there are several clubs and cafes, which perform jazz live. These are Poplavok, Lady Blues, Avant-garde, but it is not sufficient, Malkhas agrees with the newspaper correspondent. Another project of the musician still remains unrealized - the opening of a jazz school-studio, where education would be free.