Baku International Jazz Festival
Encyclopedia
The Baku International Jazz Festival is an annual jazz
event organized by renowned saxophonist and Baku
resident Rain Sultanov
. The festival aims to showcase Azerbaijan
's long-running attachment to the American-born art form, a connection first established in the country during the 1950s and 1960s, a time when jazz was outlawed by Soviet authorities. Many famous musicians from a dozen countries participate in the festival, countries such as: Georgia
, Portugal
, Italy
, Israel
, USA, Germany
, Canada
, Russia
and many more.
The jazz acts appearing at the inaugural event in April 2005 included the Joe Zawinul Syndicate, Germany's Christoph Busse Trio and Russia's Yakov Okun Quarter, in a 14 day event that laid tribute to such Azerbaijani jazz predecessors as Rafig Babayev
and his Gaya quartet as well as jazz pianist and composer Vagif Mustafa Zadeh. At the end of the first festival it was announced that the festival would become an annual event.
In 2006 the festival took place from 19 to 27 June and was headlined by Herbie Hancock
and Al Jarreau
.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
event organized by renowned saxophonist and Baku
Baku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
resident Rain Sultanov
Rain Sultanov
Rain Aladdin oglu Sultanov is an Azerbaijani jazz musician, saxophonist and Honorary Artist of Azerbaijan.-Early years:At the age of fourteen Rain entered the music school for clarinet classes and became interested in Miles Davis...
. The festival aims to showcase Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
's long-running attachment to the American-born art form, a connection first established in the country during the 1950s and 1960s, a time when jazz was outlawed by Soviet authorities. Many famous musicians from a dozen countries participate in the festival, countries such as: Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, USA, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and many more.
The jazz acts appearing at the inaugural event in April 2005 included the Joe Zawinul Syndicate, Germany's Christoph Busse Trio and Russia's Yakov Okun Quarter, in a 14 day event that laid tribute to such Azerbaijani jazz predecessors as Rafig Babayev
Rafig Babayev
Rafig Farzi oglu Babayev was an Azerbaijani jazz composer and pianist. In 1978 he was conferred the title of Honoured Artist and in 1993 the title of National Artist of Azerbaijan....
and his Gaya quartet as well as jazz pianist and composer Vagif Mustafa Zadeh. At the end of the first festival it was announced that the festival would become an annual event.
In 2006 the festival took place from 19 to 27 June and was headlined by Herbie Hancock
Herbie Hancock
Herbert Jeffrey "Herbie" Hancock is an American pianist, bandleader and composer. As part of Miles Davis's "second great quintet," Hancock helped to redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section and was one of the primary architects of the "post-bop" sound...
and Al Jarreau
Al Jarreau
Alwin "Al" Lopez Jarreau is a seven-time Grammy Award winning jazz singer.- Background :Jarreau was born in Milwaukee, the fifth of six children. His web site refers to Reservoir, Inc., the name of the street where he lived. His father was a Seventh-Day Adventist Church minister and singer, and...
.