From Azerbaijan’s Jazz Heritage to New Musical Horizons

Azerbaijan has gained attention on the international jazz scene, particularly through its outstanding soloists. Far less attention, however, has been paid to the country’s remarkable big-band tradition, the foundation of which was laid as early as the 1940s with the founding of the first jazz orchestra.

In the 1950s and 1960s, a distinct big-band culture developed in Azerbaijan, blending influences from American jazz with the country’s traditional music. Composers and orchestra conductors such as Tofig Guliyev, Rauf Hajiyev, Tofig Ahmadov, and later Rafig Babayev played a decisive role in shaping this development and created a distinctive musical language. The popularity of this music was also evident in the fact that even several movie theaters in Baku had their own jazz orchestras, which performed regularly before film screenings.

The international project “Big Band Across Borders – Baku meets Vienna” is dedicated to this jazz orchestra tradition, which is largely unknown in Central Europe. As part of an Erasmus+ collaboration between the mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, the Baku Music Academy, and the Azerbaijan National Conservatory, students from the three institutions are forming a joint big band.

Composer, arranger, and trombonist Markus Geiselhart is responsible for musical direction and arrangements. The first part of the program is dedicated to Azerbaijan’s historical big band tradition and presents selected compositions by its leading figures in new arrangements.

The second part focuses on contemporary compositions from Azerbaijan. Characteristic melodies, rhythms, and timbres of Azerbaijani music are combined—sometimes incorporating traditional instruments—with the harmonic, orchestral, and improvisational possibilities of modern jazz.

The Azerbaijani vocal quartet “NazGirls” adds a special musical dimension to the program. The ensemble includes, among others, current students and graduates of the Azerbaijan National Conservatory.
In addition to rediscovering a significant chapter in Azerbaijani jazz history, musical collaboration is at the heart of the project. Students from Austria and Azerbaijan contribute their diverse experiences, learn from one another, and collaborate to develop the concert program.

Following an initial collaborative workshop from February 9 to 12, 2027, in Vienna, the international jazz orchestra will present its program on February 14, 2027, at the Vienna jazz club Porgy & Bess. This will be followed by a return visit by the Viennese students to Baku from April 29 to May 4, 2027, where the program will be performed again on May 3, 2027, with the same lineup.
The Erasmus+ project is being carried out in collaboration with the Azerbaijani Cultural Center in Vienna, which serves as the facilitating and co-organizing partner.