Baku Jazz Festival
EurasiaNet has an article and photo essay on the Baku Jazz Festival. The photos are by Rena Effendi. Anyway, it’s always interesting to see what’s going on in the two other S. Caucasus Republics and although I’m not a big jazz fan, I do like Aziza Mustafa Zadeh, daughter of Vagif who was considered a pioneer of soviet jazz and who are both mentioned in the article.
Today, Mustafazadeh’s daughter, Aziza, ranks as a star on the global jazz circuit with a fusion of classical and jazz scat styles. Another celebrity who has crossed the musical divide between East and West is Rain Sultanov, the 39-year-old jazz saxophonist whose band, The Syndicate, is based in Baku. For Sultanov, jazz is a family affair: Sultanov’s two older brothers, Rauf, a highly accomplished bass player, and Ramin, a percussionist, also perform with The Syndicate.
Actually, I do like jazz but I prefer fusion — stuff like later Miles Davis and John McLaughlin which is probably why I like Aziza Mustafa Zadeh who I saw perform in London at the Queen Elizabeth Hall some years back (was even recommended as “concert of the week” by TimeOut Magazine and a total sell-out).
Although the idea of fusing mugam with jazz might sound terrible to most Armenians, with Aziza it works very well or at least for four of the albums I have. In fact, works so well that she has Al di Meola, Stanley Clarke, Omar Hakim, Bill Evans and John Patitucci and many other top jazz names playing on them. Interestingly, all her albums are available in Yerevan except for one of my favorites, “Always.”
Not sure why although perhaps the instrumental dedicated to Khodjali has something to do with it. That said, “Seventh Truth” has an old Azeri folk song about Lachin and a particulary nationalistic end to another track so perhaps it’s just in short supply.
Anyway, two of her albums, “Shamans” and “Seventh Truth” were disappointing (couldn’t listen to the first at all to be honest but perhaps it will grow on me). “Aziza Mustafa Zadeh,” “Always” and “Dance of Fire,” however, are quite simply magnificent. “Jazziza” is okay if you like covers but I prefer the albums I’ve listed. “Inspiration” is okay as a compilation.
Anyway, the photo essay and article can be found online here and there’s an interview online with Aziza Mustafa Zadeh at http://www.azizamustafazadeh.com.
Guys… with all respect. I do “admire” the ability of separating politics from the rest of the life (including jazz), but I guess the issue of Armenia vs. Turks (and Azeris are the same Turks, just probably less civilized) is more a life-death one. Those guys were, are and, I am afraid, will be doing everything they can to eliminate the Armenian nation from the surface of the Earth (on some degree they’ve succeeded). Including the authors. So I personally find a “harmless chat” about their culture (or sports, or business or whatever) a little tasteless. Again, don’t get me wrong, its your BLOG and you are welcome to post any topic you find appropriate. I just felt a little uneasy, that’s it…
Comment by Vahe — 4/30/2005 @ 7:29 am
Tried to listen to “Shamans” this morning and when it’s mainly instrumental (her piano playing is wonderful) it’s okay. However, I’m not so keen on the vocals. Not as good as her other mainly instrumental and debut self-titled album.
“Always” is just quite fantastic and perhaps the best jazz I’ve heard from the Caucasus which probably explains why a French Armenian at the French Embassy didn’t return it before leaving Armenia. Doesn’t explain why it’s the only Aziza CD unavailable in Yerevan, however.
Anyway, there’s some Aziza Mustafa Zadeh samples online at http://home.datacomm.ch/lawless/soundbites_title.htm
Comment by Onnik — 4/30/2005 @ 8:31 am
There has historically been (and still is to lesser extent) a great deal of cooperation in the area of art, culture and business between Armenians, Azeris and Turks. I can talk quite openly about Vagif and Aziza Mustafa Zadeh to musicians here and so why shouldn’t I be able to do so on a blog. Like I said, all of Aziza Mustafa Zadeh’s albums except for one are available for sale in CD shops in Yerevan.
Moreover, when Azerbaijan is reported to have banned CDs by Charles Aznavour and we ridicule them for that, are you suggesting that it’s okay for us to do the same? Or should we be glad when Djivan Gasparian performs in Turkey as he did recently? Shall we take this to an extreme and stop listening to Sayat Nova because he wrote songs in the Azeri language as well as Armenian and Georgian?
Listening to Aziza Mustafa Zadeh doesn’t change my personal opinions on Karabagh but if it’s any consolation, when I was first introduced to her music in London I thought it was Iranian (or at least some intriguing Iranian-Turkish mix) until I played it to a prominent Diasporan Armenian who said that she was singing in Azeri-Turkish. BTW: He liked it very much and listened to it on a CD walkman all the way to an Armenian Conference in Belgium.
Anyway, I find these arguments about culture unfortunate. When the ARF-D and AYF tried to prevent a half-Armenian and half-Bulgarian Russian singer (Philip Kirkorov) from performing in Armenia because he sang some Tarkan songs in Russian, a few Armenians pointed out that Armenian youth still listen to Tarkan in Turkish. Someone put it simply, “rather than listen to Tarkan in Russian do they want us to listen to Tarkan in Turkish?”
Personally, I like some of Tarkan as well even though I worked for five years fighting human rights abuses in Turkey through Armenian and Kurdish groups.
Or as many Armenians here point out when Diasporans criticize hayastantsi for using Russian words in conversation, the Diaspora has assimilated Turkish words. Or doesn’t it get a little stupid when I’m listening to Richard Hagopian playing oud and singing [Western] Armenian songs and some idiots here complain because it sounds “Turkish.” This actually happened.
Culture should remain separate from politics but invariably is always hijacked. However, if Aziza Mustafa Zadeh was to call for the annihilation of Armenians I would probably stop listening to her music. Until then, it’s good jazz. Anyway, hope there are no Queen fans out there because they say that Freddie Mercury (Faroukh Bulsara) is ethnically Azeri (from Iran). Don’t know if this is true, however, but should it matter?
Comment by Onnik — 4/30/2005 @ 8:48 am
BTW: I’m interested. Should we stop using washing machines and other electrical appliances, digital cameras, stop using modern elevators and boycott buying cars with ABS and Cruise Control because the inventor of fuzzy logic was an Azeri from Baku, Lotfi Zadeh?
Comment by Onnik — 4/30/2005 @ 10:11 am
Is this blog about Armenia?
Baku Jazz Festival? What’s wrong with you Onnik???
Comment by Vardan — 4/30/2005 @ 10:29 am
Yes, it’s about Armenia but as you might notice from the map, the country is bordered by a few other countries with which it has certain (good or bad) relations with. I also believe that it is interesting and relevant to examine the region as a whole. Besides, if you don’t find the post interesting it’s very simple. Don’t read it.
Comment by Onnik — 4/30/2005 @ 3:47 pm
Onnik,
As to the inventor of fuzzy logic - he is NOT an Azeri (just FYI). My close friend knows him personally, as he did his PhD at UC Berkeley (where Zadeh is Professor Emeritus). Zadeh is a Kurd, not an Azeri (I happen to know a lot of interesting details about his biography and family). Are we going to refer to anybody who lived and worked in Baku as Azeri? How about Garry Kasparov, Lev Landau and many others? Also, funny thing, as soon as someone becomes famous, many nations start to claim the affinity to him. For example - Persians say Zadeh is Iranian: http://www.algebra.com/algebra/about/history/List-of-Iranian-scientists-and-technologists.wikipedia. Now I start thinking: maybe Zadeh is an Armenian, after all he is soo intelligent?
Anyways, I am not saying Zadeh could not be Azeri in principle. And I agree - we should not follow the path of blind rejection of whatever has Turkish roots. Just as they do with Armenians - that really looks pathetic. It’s just personally I can’t force myself to enjoy Azeri culture (if I can find any), or even to buy food made in Turkey. And I fail to understand those crowds of Armenians traveling to Turkey for family vacations or even honeymoons. I can’t be completely objective to the nation whose raison d’etre - often seems - is to destroy my nation. I guess it’s part of my weak human nature. So I on one hand admire your ability to separate the life-death struggle context between us and Azeris from the other aspects of life. On the other hand… see above.
And the last thing “if you don’t find the post interesting it’s very simple. Don’t read it.” - don’t get defensive any time someone criticizes you, it’s not a good BLOG etiquette
Cheers!
Comment by Vahe — 4/30/2005 @ 8:52 pm
Re. the etiquette stuff, I think the point I made was quite logical. Don’t like it, don’t read it. Nothing defensive in that, just stating the obvious.
Re. Aziza, when I first heard her album “Dance of Fire” in London I never knew she was Azeri but I knew I liked it. When I later found out it was Azeri what was I going to do, say it’s no so good after all?
As for Lotfi Zadeh, Kurd or Azeri he was an Azeri citizen born in Baku. This ethnic roots stuff gets a bit tiring after a while. Of course, if he’s a Kurd it makes it even more interesting although his biography details him being born in Baku to a Jewish mother and a Moslem father. So here we get into some difficulties, don’t we? Is Zadeh a Jew or a Moslem and if the latter is he a Kurd or an Azeri. Basically, however, should it matter?
Anyway, the point is that it’s interesting to know what’s going on in the other republics of the region (which one day even if that’s in the far distant future will be an economic integrated mass whether we like it or not) and that stretches to culture as well as politics, society, economics etc.
And besides, I’m blogging, listen to Aziza CDs, some of which were bought in Yerevan, and she was mentioned in an article by an organization dealing with “Eurasia” and commenting on a jazz festival held in a neighboring country which Armenia is technically at war with.
I think that’s pretty much a connection.
Comment by Onnik — 4/30/2005 @ 9:43 pm
There’s an interview between Lotfi Zadeh and Azerbaijan International magazine online at:
http://www.azer.com/aiweb/categories/magazine/24_folder/24_articles/24_fuzzylogic.html
His mother was Russian (I assume a Russian Jew considering other mentions to his mother in other resources) and after being born and raised in Baku he left for Iran and later the US.
Here’s an interesting quote probably formed by his varied background and people’s claims to him:
“The question really isn’t whether I’m American, Russian, Iranian, Azerbaijani, or anything else,” he’ll tell you. “I’ve been shaped by all these people and cultures and I feel quite comfortable among all of them.”
My point is that when we go so far as to examine the ethnic roots of everybody to decide whether we like them or not it’s going a little too far.
Comment by Onnik — 4/30/2005 @ 9:52 pm
“Now I start thinking: maybe Zadeh is an Armenian, after all he is soo intelligent?”
Vahe, re. your comment quoted above, might interest you to know that some Armenians say that Aziza Mustafa Zadeh is an Armenian.
To be honest, it has no relation to whether I liked her music or whether I can still enjoy it but amusing to mention.
Comment by Onnik — 4/30/2005 @ 9:55 pm
Onnik, your ancestors are Armenian too, but this does not mean you are Armenian.
Your this post clearly states that this blog is the continuation of the “Plan” made by the Zionists about a century ago. But wih one exception. You do not know or use the Armenian language, except word գրել, which was corrected by me anyway…
Comment by Հակոբ — 5/1/2005 @ 5:56 am
Vahe,
Garry Kasparov is not Armenian. He is Ashkenazy Jew.
Comment by Հակոբ — 5/1/2005 @ 5:58 am
I accept the idea of examinig the region as a whole, but you lost the connection. The only connection I could see in your blog is that one of the Baku Jazz Festival participant’s audio CDs are available in Armenian market. So?
Remember, this is “a blog about Armenia: business, politics, the future and good lavash”.
Comment by Vardan — 5/1/2005 @ 9:34 am
Vardan, no, remember this is a blog where the bloggers decide what to blog about. Thank you for at least being civil in your discourse.
If the blog was inappropiate then Matt can contact me privately and tell me so. However, there seems to be a connection because it’s gotten a lot of blood up.
Hagop, man, really. You violate human rights on a daily basis. The right to an identity is a basic one and you have no right to tell people who or what they are.
Comment by Onnik — 5/1/2005 @ 10:11 am
Well, probably Matt is busy with more important things, otherwise I am sure he would remove your blog. Yes, blogger decides what to blog about, but it should be at least somehow related to Armenia or armenians, I believe. You definitely lost the connection, sorry.
Comment by Vardan — 5/1/2005 @ 6:52 pm
I’m currently managing Blogrel.com and I did not find Onnik’s post any more inappropriate than any of the other posts that have been up here about Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, etc. — he listed it under “neighbors” — if you don’t want to read it, don’t read it, okay? That’s what is great about blogs.
Thanks! Katy
Comment by Katy — 5/1/2005 @ 10:19 pm
Katy, apologies. Forgot you were the boss now…
Once again, however, it is amazing to me that Armenians (however, please note that this is Diasporans thousands of miles away in the Diaspora)can consider that its neighbors are irrelevent including one that it is actually at war with.
Listen, maybe I’m not interested in some of the blogs but rather than try to convince us to self-censor ourselves, I don’t read them. Also, had these points been of no significance to Armenia, you wouldn’t be trying to stop them.
It’s very simple.
Comment by Onnik Krikorian — 5/2/2005 @ 12:47 am
Katy, you would better manage the blog about your village in United States…
(joke)
Something similar happens when foreigners try to establish their “standards” in third countries with the help of numerous native henchmen.
Comment by Vardan — 5/2/2005 @ 3:21 am
A couple of comments.
Zadeh: he left Azerbaijan and moved to Iran when he was 2 years old; the fact that Baku used to be a very diverse and international city doesn’t speak about Azeris tolerance (they had little to do with Baku at that time), actually the pogroms in January 1990 plus today’s blind hatred towards us does… the point is - the past accomplishments of Baku and its citizens has nothing to do with Azeris.
National Pride: here I have a different notion of it; I can’t listen to the music of, buy goods made in, spend my vacation in resorts of etc. the nation which annihilated my ancestors yesterday, is annihilating the memory about them today and dreams of annihilating me tomorrow. By the same token, again, I don’t get those who sell their CDs in Yerevan’s streets (I guess it’s a market demand issue). But then, I accept, there are LOTS of Armenians (including Onnik) who don’t mind. I probably am either too primitive, or too prideful, or whatever to isolate the “politics” from the rest, sorry. Thus my initial comment.
BLOG: …with all that’s been said - the very fact this post got so many comments makes it probably worthwhile for publishing
Armenia and “foreigners”: I think the biggest problem Armenia has today is its isolation; foreigners (or Diaspora) are one of few factors breaking that isolation; being a native Yerevantsi, I welcome all the Diaspora participating in modern Armenia’s life - at the very least it brings some fresh air and diversity
PS. And I don’t remember of saying that Kasparov is Armenian (his mother is, as we know).
Comment by Vahe — 5/2/2005 @ 9:43 am
Okay, end of topic. Because of the responses this blog has attracted I will make it a matter of policy to post more such stories in the future.
Responses show that there is a connection and one that a few nationalists in the Diaspora are trying to censor. Actually, if it’s not interesting or relevant, really, you wouldn’t read it.
You’d ignore it and certainly not continue the discussion.
Incidentally, Vahe, you say you are a “native Yerevantsi” but your IP address (69.236.165.251) shows that you are connecting to the Internet via PacBell.
Comment by Onnik — 5/2/2005 @ 10:58 am
Vardan (using Verizon), Katy has probably visited Armenia more frequently than you and actually has Armenian studies, I think, has part of her academic background (correct me if I’m wrong, Katy).
Once again, I say that if you don’t like the blog go to another site where you can access only the information that you want to.
Comment by Onnik — 5/2/2005 @ 11:01 am
Wow, I didn’t think that starting using PacBell (or Verizon) I was depriving myself from my Yerevantzi roots… Or maybe being a native Yerevantzi means listening to Azeri mugam and spending vacations in Antalia?
Again, Onnik, try to understand - people read BLOG and may agree or disagree with the information posted there - hasn’t it ever happened to you?! Even if some may be criticizing you for disseminating Azeri culture news, at least you have a proof that whatever you poster is read. And then again, discussions are inherent part of the BLOG, if you don’t like what I write here - just ignore it.
Comment by Vahe — 5/2/2005 @ 11:32 am
Vahe, so don’t make it sound as if you are a “native Yerevantsi” which makes you sound as though you are living here now. You have left Armenia and haven’t come back despite your nationalist credentials.
As for ignoring your comments, you’re right, I will. I will ignore them by continuing to post what I want and not what people with the choice not to access this site if they don’t like it say I should.
Anyway, you weren’t discussing. You were telling me not to post. You were trying to stop others posting material you don’t like. Continue to comment, continue to discuss but don’t try and force us to post anything you don’t like.
It’s a chicken and an egg situation.
Comment by Onnik — 5/2/2005 @ 12:46 pm
I was born, grown up and lived in Yerevan for many years. Katy could study Armenia her whole life, but she would never feel and understand, what is that to be Armenian. Where were you born, Onnik? Where have you grown up? What is your native language?
“…participating in modern Armenia’s life” is great, but trying “…to establish their “standards”…” is different, isn’t it?
Once again, I believe, it is important to examine the region as a whole, and if you blog on this web site, which is “a blog about Armenia…”, you have to connect and relate your analysis to Armenia and Armenians, but not just praise neighbor’s achievements. It is ridiculous.
Comment by Vardan — 5/3/2005 @ 2:01 am
Who’s praising neighbor’s achievements? You can miss out my comments on other things that are negative with regards to Azerbaijan such as Karabagh or democracy (or lack of it) and yet a simple thing such as a jazz concert gets your back up. The problem is with you.
As for my birthplace and all the rest of it, it’s an irrelevance. My wife is from here and my son was born here and so I probably have a bigger stake in the future of this country than you sitting thousands of miles away. I have to contend with corruption, the lack of the rule of law and think about my son’s future every day.
You don’t. You’ve already made your decision. You left the country and even if this wasn’t your own choice you have chosen not to return.
Another point is simply this. If you think Armenia can be viewed as a country separate from this region you are wrong and thankfully, the government and many among the population understand this. How that sorts itself out is politics but re. the jazz concert — why is it relevant?
The blog was relevant in a regional context and your attempts to censor show that to be the case. My argument would be this. Even in a corrupt and authoritarian state like Azerbaijan, the same “developments” that people like you hold up as signs of progress in Armenia can be found.
In reality, the main indicators are perhaps something else that are harder to measure — such as democracy, the rule of law, corruption, the distribution of economic growth etc and yes, in this case, Armenia is “ahead” in most if not all of these areas but still “behind” when compared to other countries including those in the FSU.
Again, that’s why, after all you say, you are over there and not over here. And btw: what is “feeling” Armenian and who decides this? An adherent of the Armenian Apostolic Church? A member of the ARF-D or hhsh? A particular age group? Only those you agree with?
One thing that many like you fail to understand is that apart from a few key issues such as the genocide and karabagh which attracts a consensus of opinion, there are many, many views and opinions present in Armenia.
Maybe you’re too stuck in the old soviet authoritarian, closeted mindset or been indoctrinated with too much nationalist rhetoric and are desperate to cling on to something little more than a dream now. Perhaps you’re unable to think beyond what you’ve been told to, to understand that Armenia is changing. Slowly, yes, but it is changing and everybody is entitled to their opinion.
And as the father of a child born here and also as a resident of the ROA with the same rights afforded to me by the Armenian Government as a citizen except for voting etc, how dare you impose such nationalist bull which actually violates every principle enshrined in the constitution and which forms the basis for the state.
Comment by Onnik Krikorian — 5/3/2005 @ 2:54 am
One last point, Vardan, are you — as someone born in the ROA who now expects the full rights afforded to someone resident in another country to be shown to them — suggesting that those who are descendents of Genocide Surrvivors born outside the country because of historical circumstances have no right to do so?
One hopes that those who you know in the US treat you as an immigrant who left your own country with a little bit more respect than you show others. Or do you suggest discriminating against refugees from Azerbaijan who are now living in Armenia? After all, they weren’t brought up or raised in Yerevan or Armenia, were they? Or perhaps you feel the same about Armenians from Lebanon or Georgia? Whatever.
With that I am now turning off all comments for this blog. You guys have already shown how deep your heads are buried in the sand and you’re showing yourself to share the same mentality that extremists in Turkey and Azerbaijan have and which you say you despise. In reality, I see little difference.
Comment by Onnik Krikorian — 5/3/2005 @ 2:57 am