Vagif Mustafazadeh
Encyclopedia
Vagif Mustafazadeh also known as Vagif Mustafa Zadeh, was an Azerbaijani jazz
pianist
and composer
, acclaimed for fusing jazz and traditional Azerbaijani folk music known as mugham
. According to many world famous jazz musicians, Mustafazadeh is one of the pioneer
s and "the architect of jazz in Azerbaijan".
, on March 16, 1940. His name was chosen by the renowned poet, Samed Vurgun
, on the request of his mother, who was a piano teacher in local music school and played very influential and immeasurable role in his success.
In 1963, he graduated from Baku State Musical School named after Asaf Zeynally
and a year later accepted to Azerbaijan State Conservatoire
. He first achieved fame at the Music School where he studied by giving concerts there, later on performing at the parties and evenings held at the universities and clubs, shortly after he became one of the most influential musical performers in Azerbaijan. While performing at the clubs, he mainly played classical jazz, as well as blues
and dance music.
and sang Meykhana
, rhythmic poetry, which had also been banned. After listening on the radio, he and his friend Vagif Samadoglu attempted to recreate the music on the piano.
In 1966, Willis Conover
, conductor of the "Jazz Time" radio program, even went as far as to say, "Vagif Mustafazadeh is an extraordinary pianist. It is impossible to identify his equal. He is the most lyrical pianist I have ever known."
In 1965, he quit the conservatoire and went to Tbilisi
to lead the "Orero" musical ensemble. Later he created the "Qafqaz" jazz trio at Georgian State Philarmony. In 1970 the "Leyli" women's quartet and in 1971 "Sevil" vocal-instrumental ensemble were assembled by him. Until 1977 he guided the groups. Between 1977-1979 until his death he led the "Mugham" instrumental ensemble which was also organized by him. He won first prize at the 8th International Competition of Jazz Composers for his composition "Waiting for Aziza" in Monaco
in 1978, but died the next year.Vagif attended "Tallinn-66" All-Soviet Union Jazz Festival and "Caz-69" Azerbaijani jazz festivals and was awarded as laureate there. Mustafazadeh was also elected as laureate at Donetsk
All-Soviet Union Jazz Festival held in 1977. He was elected as the best pianist in "Tbilisi-78". He won the first prize at the 8th International Competition of Jazz Composers for his composition "Waiting for Aziza" in Monaco
in 1978 and awarded with white grand piano. Vagif Mustafazadeh is assigned Honored Artist of Azerbaijan SSR and after his death Azerbaijani State Prize.
shortly after a concert in Tashkent
and also shortly before the birthdays of his wife (December 17) and daughter (December 19).
Piano Competition, France
, in 1991. He then married to Eliza and father of Aziza Mustafa Zadeh
, famous jazz musician.
More than three decades since Mustafazade's passing, a larger number of his recordings from all periods of his career are more widely available in stores than at any time during his lifetime. His works are broadcast and listened to every day and are honored in TV and radios.
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...
pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, acclaimed for fusing jazz and traditional Azerbaijani folk music known as mugham
Mugham
Mugam also known as Azerbaijani Mugham is one of the many folk musical compositions from Azerbaijan, contrast with Tasnif, Ashugs. Mugam draws on Iranian-Arabic-Turkish Maqam....
. According to many world famous jazz musicians, Mustafazadeh is one of the pioneer
Pioneer
A pioneer is a soldier employed to perform engineering tasks. The term is in principle similar to sapper.Pioneers were originally part of the Artillery branch of European armies. Their primary job was to assist other Arms in tasks such as construction of field fortifications or military camps...
s and "the architect of jazz in Azerbaijan".
Early life
Mustafazadeh was born in Old City, the historical core of the BakuBaku
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...
, on March 16, 1940. His name was chosen by the renowned poet, Samed Vurgun
Samed Vurgun
Samad Vurgun was a prominent Azerbaijani and Soviet poet, honoured worker of arts of Azerbaijan SSR and a member of the Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan SSR from 1945. Vurgun was awarded the USSR State Prize for his dramas: in 1941 for Vagif and in 1942 for Farhad and Shirin .Vurgun began...
, on the request of his mother, who was a piano teacher in local music school and played very influential and immeasurable role in his success.
In 1963, he graduated from Baku State Musical School named after Asaf Zeynally
Asaf Zeynally
Asaf Zeynalabdin oglu Zeynally , also spelled Zeynalli , was an Azerbaijani composer.-Early life:...
and a year later accepted to Azerbaijan State Conservatoire
Baku Academy of Music
The Hajibeyov Baku Academy of Music is a music school in Baku, Azerbaijan. It was established in 1920 in Baku and was previously known as the Hajibeyov Azerbaijan State Conservatoire.-History:...
. He first achieved fame at the Music School where he studied by giving concerts there, later on performing at the parties and evenings held at the universities and clubs, shortly after he became one of the most influential musical performers in Azerbaijan. While performing at the clubs, he mainly played classical jazz, as well as blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
and dance music.
Soviet prohibition
Musical prohibitions during the 1940’s and 1950’s meant that the playing of jazz was banned in USSR countries, including Azerbaijan. Since there was no opportunity to get jazz records from anywhere those times, Mustafazade listened to jazz pieces, learning from movies where he heard jazz music and BBC radioBBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
and sang Meykhana
Meykhana
Meykhana is a distinctive Azerbaijani literary and folk rap tradition, consisting of an unaccompanied song performed by one or more people improvising on a particular subject...
, rhythmic poetry, which had also been banned. After listening on the radio, he and his friend Vagif Samadoglu attempted to recreate the music on the piano.
Popularity and recognition
From the 1960’s, prohibitions put on jazz music were gradually lifted and thus the late 1960s and 70’s became a time when Baku was a real center of locally inspired jazz. By this time, Mustafazade was making his way to his audience and his popularity grew. His name was often mentioned among other jazz musicians and he participated in festivals held in his native land, as well as in and outside the Soviet countries. Since making a strong impression in his early years at college, his music progressed and popularity grew; he appeared in many festivals.In 1966, Willis Conover
Willis Conover
Willis Clark Conover, Jr. was a jazz producer and broadcaster on the Voice of America for over forty years. He produced jazz concerts at the White House, the Newport Jazz Festival, and for movies and television. By arranging concerts where people of all races were welcome, he is credited with...
, conductor of the "Jazz Time" radio program, even went as far as to say, "Vagif Mustafazadeh is an extraordinary pianist. It is impossible to identify his equal. He is the most lyrical pianist I have ever known."
In 1965, he quit the conservatoire and went to Tbilisi
Tbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
to lead the "Orero" musical ensemble. Later he created the "Qafqaz" jazz trio at Georgian State Philarmony. In 1970 the "Leyli" women's quartet and in 1971 "Sevil" vocal-instrumental ensemble were assembled by him. Until 1977 he guided the groups. Between 1977-1979 until his death he led the "Mugham" instrumental ensemble which was also organized by him. He won first prize at the 8th International Competition of Jazz Composers for his composition "Waiting for Aziza" in Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
in 1978, but died the next year.Vagif attended "Tallinn-66" All-Soviet Union Jazz Festival and "Caz-69" Azerbaijani jazz festivals and was awarded as laureate there. Mustafazadeh was also elected as laureate at Donetsk
Donetsk
Donetsk , is a large city in eastern Ukraine on the Kalmius river. Administratively, it is a center of Donetsk Oblast, while historically, it is the unofficial capital and largest city of the economic and cultural Donets Basin region...
All-Soviet Union Jazz Festival held in 1977. He was elected as the best pianist in "Tbilisi-78". He won the first prize at the 8th International Competition of Jazz Composers for his composition "Waiting for Aziza" in Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
in 1978 and awarded with white grand piano. Vagif Mustafazadeh is assigned Honored Artist of Azerbaijan SSR and after his death Azerbaijani State Prize.
Jazz mugham
Mustafazadeh is the founder of Azerbaijani jazz mugham movement that emerged in the late 60’s and 70’s in Baku, as a result of the mixture of these two styles. He began searching for new ways to structure his improvisations by exploring modal music. More innovative approaches were taken by him and its influence stretched into later developments of this style.Death
Mustafazadeh died of heart-attackMyocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
shortly after a concert in Tashkent
Tashkent
Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan and of the Tashkent Province. The officially registered population of the city in 2008 was about 2.2 million. Unofficial sources estimate the actual population may be as much as 4.45 million.-Early Islamic History:...
and also shortly before the birthdays of his wife (December 17) and daughter (December 19).
Personal life
Mustafazadeh was married twice, from who he had a daughter from that other marriage named Lala, a talented classical pianist. She won the Grand Prize in EpinalÉpinal
Épinal is a commune in northeastern France and the capital of the Vosges department. Inhabitants are known as Spinaliens.-Geography:The commune has a land area of 59.24 km²...
Piano Competition, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, in 1991. He then married to Eliza and father of Aziza Mustafa Zadeh
Aziza Mustafa Zadeh
Aziza Mustafa Zadeh also known as The Princess of Jazz, or Die Prinzessin des Jazz or as Jazziza is an Azerbaijani singer, pianist and composer who plays a fusion of jazz and mugam with classical and Avant-garde influences...
, famous jazz musician.
Legacy
His works and performance were praised by internationally known leading world musicians, such as Willis Connover and B.B. King. Once when King shared the same stage with Mustafazade, he heard him playing the blues piano and said nobody could play the blues like him and afterwards said to Vagif that “people call me the king of the blues, but if I could play the piano like you do, I would call myself God.”More than three decades since Mustafazade's passing, a larger number of his recordings from all periods of his career are more widely available in stores than at any time during his lifetime. His works are broadcast and listened to every day and are honored in TV and radios.
External links
- http://vagif.musigi-dunya.az/
- musiqi.az (in Azeri)
- Come closer to Vagif Mustafazadeh, Vagif's page on jazz.az
- Vagif Mustafazadeh: Mugham Jazz, Musical Roots in Baku's Old City. Azerbaijan International
- The Emergence of Jazz in Azerbaijan, Vagif Mustafazadeh: Fusing Jazz with Mugam. Azerbaijan International
- Aziza Mustafa Zadeh website