The 1960s saw the dawning of a golden era for Azerbaijani jazz. It was a decade with a very particular environment, nurturing the flourishing of many styles in the country’s jazz life. Innovations of the time included free flight as well as intensive styles; the quality improved and the period witnessed some unique and brilliant talents. One of the finds of the 60s was jazz composer and pianist Rafiq Farzi oglu Babayev (1936-1994).

Rafiq Babayev, was a highly intellectual and talented artist, pianist, and arranger; he caught the new pulse of Azerbaijani national and succeeded in revealing its new shades and accents. History endowed him with one more mission – to be the first to establish a school, from which several generations of talent have emerged. They include Jamil Amirov, Siyavush Kerimi, Alasgar Abbasov, Emil Hasanov, Salman Gambarov, Tofig Jabbarov, Gennady Stepanishev, Aziza Mustafa Zadeh, Rain Sultanov and others, who are keeping jazz music alive. Rafiq Babayev died in a terrorist atrocity in Baku’s metro on 17 March 1994.