It may be relatively little known outside of its own borders but the jazz scene in Azerbaijan is particularly vibrant.
It is known for its distinctive improvisational style and unique fusion of Eastern musical traditions with Western jazz.
It covers a broad range of styles, including traditional, post-pop and fusion and often features a blend with traditional Azeri music.
The most well-known type of Azerbaijani jazz is jazz mugham, which includes a sultry combination of Mugham and traditional American jazz.
A Brussels audience was this week treated to a taste of all this at a special concert dedicated solely to Azerbaijani jazz at Flagey.
The concert, on Monday, was organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Belgium and took place at one of Brussels’ most renowned cultural venues, one with a rich jazz tradition.
The concert featured distinguished Azerbaijani jazz musicians Rain Sultanov, Shahin Novrasli, Nicat Pashazade and Hasan Bilalov, who performed selected works from Azerbaijan’s musical repertoire.
In his opening remarks, Mammad Zulfugarov, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the Embassy, highlighted Azerbaijani jazz as “an integral part of the country’s rich musical heritage.2
He stressed the importance of such cultural initiatives in promoting Azerbaijan’s culture and traditions internationally.
Belgian musician, jazz artist and composer Quentin Dujardin praised the Azerbaijani jazz school for its “distinctive style.”
In 1969, the first jazz festival was held in Baku.
As of 2000s, the country saw an increase in jazz festivals and music festivalsare held annually. The Baku Jazz Centre has been created for development and support of jazz culture in Azerbaijan.
Recalling his participation in the Baku Jazz Festival, Quentin Dujardin also shared positive impressions of Azerbaijan’s vibrant jazz scene, talented musicians and the festival’s high level of organization.
The concert was warmly received by the audience and highly appreciated as a valuable contribution to the promotion of Azerbaijani musical heritage and jazz culture in Belgium.
The event was attended by diplomats, Belgian and European Union officials, representatives of cultural and artistic circles, members of the music community, and representatives of the Azerbaijani diaspora.
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