Mugham master, French jazzman present joint album

By Azernews

By Laman Ismayilova

Famous mugham singer Gochag Asgarov and French jazzman Pierre de Tregoman have held a joint concert in Paris on the occasion of release of joint "MU?HAM SOULS" album.

The concert took place in Saint Julien Le Pauvre church with the support of the Association of Friends of Azerbaijan in France, Azertac reported.

The two musicians were accompanied by Elnur Mikayilov (kamancha), Kamran Karimov (drum) and Vasif Huseynzade (piano).

Secretary General of the Association Mirvari Fataliyeva delivered a speech at the event. He gave detailed information to the guests about mugham, included in the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

In her speech, Sanubar Baghirova, member of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), musicologist, one of the leading experts in the field of mugham said that mugham is beloved by the music lovers who are attracted to the Eastern music.  She stressed that Gochag Asgarov and Pierre de Tregoman have successfully produced synthesis of mugham with western melody.

The concert caused great interest of French music lovers.

Another presentation of "MU?HAM SOULS" album will be held in Azerbaijan early next year.

The album features successful synthesis of jazz with mugham.

Pierre de Trégomain played with his Quartet in festivals and jazz clubs throughout France and Europe and gained a solid reputation for his stage performances and improvisation.

Previously, Pierre visited Baku to take mugham lessons from khananda Gochag Askarov.

With the help of mugham singer, Pierre learned such main mughams as with "Rast", "Bayati-Shiraz".

Gochag Askarov performed at dozens of international music festivals in Europe, Asia, and Middle East. After his successful performance at Shanghai World Music Festival-2014, he was named "Prince of classical Azerbaijani mugham".

His albums released in 2011 and 2013 were reviewed by Songline, The Wire (UK), Trad, Les Inrocks (France), and All About Jazz (Italy), and many other renowned European magazines.