Euronews broadcasts report titled Baku - the capital of jazz

The report highlights the history of jazz in Azerbaijan, saying the genre became popular in the country in 1950s. The report says the genre was promoted in Azerbaijan by the country's outstanding musicians like Muslum Magomayev, Polad Bulbuloglu and Vagif Mustafazade.

The report features interviews with the festival's organizers and jazz musicians.

Farah Aliyeva, the festival organizer, says: “Everyone loves jazz in Baku. In the past, all the musicians wanted to come here because we were a jazz city. So, since the start of the 21st century, we have been organising festivals. This year is the seventh one. Baku could become a Mecca for jazz lovers. We want to make Baku the capital of jazz. We really do.”

Rain Sultanov, a saxophonist, says: “Jazz is free music. I can`t say that this music represents either the East or the West. When we play on stage, we transform our ideas into a single instant in the form of music and sound. Musicians don`t wonder if they`re playing music from the East or the West. We just make music, that`s all.”

Pianist Isfar Sarabski says: “My aim is to make Azerbaijani music famous all over the world. I dream of establishing a jazz school in Azerbaijan so that our young jazz musicians can learn jazz. I want Azerbaijani jazz to be known all over the world. So that when people hear Azeri jazz, they would say, “Wow, that`s good!”


/AzerTAc/