Azernews.Az

By Laman Ismayilova

Baku Jazz Festival has become a member of the Europe Jazz Network, which bring together 115 members from 34 countries.

Baku Jazz Festival become the first EJN member from Azerbaijan, Azertac reported.

Since 2005, Baku Jazz Festival promotes jazz in Baku and reveals new talents. The large-scaled project is organized by the Culture and Tourism Ministry of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan Culture Foundation and Jazz Dunyasi magazine.

Baku Jazz Festival is a forum and musical festival including education (seminars, master classes), competition ("Best Jazz Performer"), a "Kids jazz day", art and photo exhibitions, jam sessions and jazz concerts with the participation of best performers of the world of jazz.

The revival of jazz in the Land of Fire started in 1960s, thanks to the active efforts of great national composers such as Gara Garayev, Tofig Guliyev, Rauf Hajiyev and Niyazi.

The “flowering” of Azerbaijani jazz is associated with the names of giants such as Rafig Babayev and Vagif Mustafazade, who experimented creating unrepeatable compositions, becoming the founders of a new jazz trend jazz-mugham. This unique genre assembles both a traditional Azerbaijan music and a classic American jazz.

Today, Azerbaijani jazz performers are winners of many international jazz festivals and competitions.

Europe Jazz Network (EJN) is a Europe-wide association of producers, presenters and supporting organisations who specialize in creative music, contemporary jazz and improvised music created from a distinctly European perspective.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

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