(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 5. The Heydar Aliyev
Center hosted amazing 'Jazz Day' in Baku with the participation of
musicians from Azerbaijan, the US and Cuba, trend Life reports.
The "centerpiece" was the virtuoso pianist and
composer from the US Ruslan Agababayev, who actively promotes
Azerbaijani music around the world.
Jazz expert, radio and TV presenter, honored worker of
culture Rahib Azeri spoke about the artist's creative path, which
began in his native Baku, at the opening of the evening. The
graduate of the piano faculty of the Baku Music Academy named after
Uzeyir Hajibeyov, Ruslan Agababayev, continued his studies at the
Department of Classical Composition of New York New School
University.
Performing concerts all over the world, he
collaborated with famous jazz and ethno-musical artists. He has won
many prizes at international festivals and has been accepted into
American Society of Composers, Authors, Publishers (ASCAP). He
often comes from New York to Baku to visit relatives and perform
concerts.
"I adore Azerbaijan a lot and always feel special
happiness when performing in my homeland. Since early childhood,
music has become a part of my life. By the age of six, I began to
play the piano and study music seriously. After a couple of years,
I began to improvise, so this world became a part of my life. We
played the most diverse music at home from classical, folk music to
mugham, songs by Rashid Beybutov, Muslim Magomayev and jazz. My
idols were Vagif Mustafazade, Bill Evans, Chick Corea and others,"
Agababayev said.
Agababayev constantly gets acquainted with new
authors, but at the same time never forgets about classical
music.
"I listen to a lot of different genres. I am inspired
by music, especially ethnic music. In my creative work I always try
to find new talent musicians, who create unknown compositions, and
such music becomes one of the sources of my inspiration.
Improvisational music is something incredible, especially when
you're on stage with wonderful musicians. Real works appear, only
when the music comes from soul," he said.
A concert program consisting of ethnic, jazz and
classical music was presented this evening. The trio was led by
Ruslan Agababayev with honored artist Ruslan Huseynov (bass guitar)
and Elvin Bashirov (drums).
The concert was also featured Anvar Sadigov
(accordion), Tunzala Agayeva (vocals), honored artists Ceyla
Seidova (violin), Sevda Alekperzade (vocals), Elnur Mikailov
(kamancha) and others joined them during the evening, as well as
Cuban musician Yanssel Castellon gave the audience many vivid
impressions, spiritual relaxation and an incendiary drive.
