The Azerbaijani jazz () is a popular variety of

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...

, widespread in

Azerbaijan Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a Boundaries between the continents, transcontinental and landlocked country at the boundary of West Asia and Eastern Europe. It is a part of the South Caucasus region and is bounded by ...

. It covers a broad range of styles (traditional, post-pop, fusion, free flexion) and often features a blend with traditional Azeri music. Among modern famed Azeri jazz musicians are Aziza Mustafazadeh, who was influenced by

Bill Evans William John Evans (August 16, 1929 – September 15, 1980) was an American Jazz piano, jazz pianist and composer who worked primarily as the leader of his trio. His use of impressionist harmony, block chords, innovative chord voicings, a ...

and

Keith Jarrett Keith Jarrett (born May 8, 1945) is an American pianist and composer. Jarrett started his career with Art Blakey and later moved on to play with Charles Lloyd (jazz musician), Charles Lloyd and Miles Davis. Since the early 1970s, he has also be ...

, Rain Sultanov, Isfar Sarabski, Shahin Novrasli.

History

20th century

Jazz first appeared in Azerbaijan at the beginning of the 20th century. During the

Soviet The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

period,

Baku Baku (, ; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Azerbaijan, largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and in the Caucasus region. Baku is below sea level, which makes it the List of capital ci ...

was one of the three cities best known for jazz, along with

Saint Petersburg Saint Petersburg, formerly known as Petrograd and later Leningrad, is the List of cities and towns in Russia by population, second-largest city in Russia after Moscow. It is situated on the Neva, River Neva, at the head of the Gulf of Finland ...

and

Riga Riga ( ) is the capital, Primate city, primate, and List of cities and towns in Latvia, largest city of Latvia. Home to 591,882 inhabitants (as of 2025), the city accounts for a third of Latvia's total population. The population of Riga Planni ...

. The Eastern Jazz Band, whose performances in

Moscow Moscow is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Russia by population, largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva (river), Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents with ...

were advertised in 1926, included Huseyngulu Sarabski as a soloist. In the 1930s, Niyazi and Tofig Guliyev Vagif Mustafazadeh created the first local jazz band. However, jazz in the

Soviet Union The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

faced prohibition and censorship from 1920 through to 1953. By the 1950s, jazz musicians from many Soviet cities, looking for a safe harbour, gradually gathered in Baku. In the late 1960s, the Azerbaijani jazz music was boosted by such composers as Gara Garayev and Rauf Hajiyev. In 1969, the first jazz festival was held in Baku.

21st century

As of 2000s, the country saw increase in jazz festivals, the music festivals such as Baku International Jazz Festival and Gabala International Music Festival are held annually. The Baku Jazz Center has been created for development and support of jazz culture in Azerbaijan. Baku Jazz Festival has been held since 2005; it was founded by the Azerbaijani musician Rain Sultanov and has proved itself as one of the biggest events of the Azerbaijan for more than a decade. Baku Jazz Festival is a celebration of music and a forum, which will include areas such as education (seminars, workshops), contests (young talents International Baku Jazz Competition "I am Jazzman!"), art and photo exhibitions, jam sessions, jazz film days and jazz concerts. Baku Jazz Festival was attended by such artists as Al Jarreau, Joe Zawinul, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Joshua Redman, Charles Lloyd and Diana Krall. Baku Jazz Festival is advertised and covered on the Euronews channel, in 2006 the festival joined the list of the world largest jazz festivals, and each year the festival is attended by over 200,000 spectators. ''Jazz Dunyasi'' magazine is the first printed edition of jazz in Azerbaijan. It has been published since 2004 and founded by its chief editor Leyla Efendiyeva. The Jazz Dunyasi magazine talks about the world of jazz, jazz in Azerbaijan. It contains information on the new CD, jazz festivals, young talent and stars of jazz. The Jazz Dunyasi magazine has its annual pavilion at the international exhibition Jazzahead! Artists such as Aziza Mustafa Zadeh, Rain Sultanov, Amina Figarova, Isfar Sarabski and Shahin Novrasli achieved worldwide success, who returned triumphant from Montreux Jazz Festival in 2007.

Derivatives and offshoots

The most known type of Azerbaijani jazz is Jazz mugham, which includes a sultry combination of

Mugham Mugham () or Mughamat () is one of the many classical compositions from Azerbaijan, contrasting with tasnif and ashik. It is an art form that weds classical poetry and musical improvisation in specific local modes. Mugham is a modal system. ...

and traditional American jazz. The style reached its full fame in the 1950s and 1960s under the influence of composer Rafig Babayev and his Gaya Quartet and jazz pianist and composer Vagif Mustafazadeh.

Dizzy Gillespie John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie ( ; October 21, 1917 – January 6, 1993) was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer, educator and singer. He was a trumpet virtuoso and improvisation, improviser, building on the virtuosic style of Roy El ...

, the legendary American jazz trumpeter, reportedly lauded Mustafazadeh for creating "the music of the future."

Notable performers

Individuals

References

Inna Naroditskaya, “Azerbaijani Mugham Jazz,” Jazz Worlds/World Jazz, ed. Philip V. Bohlman and Goffredo Plastino, Chicago, London: University of Chicago Press, 2016, 98-124.

External links

Baku Jazz Festival
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Azerbaijani Jazz