ENDLESS IMPROVISATION

"I believe that music can heal and enlighten people. I am trying to make life easier for other people, because music helps me too." These words belong to the famous jazz performer Dianne Reeves. I remembered exact same words during my sincere and candid conversation with Azerbaijani jazz singer Tarana Mahmudova, because they fully and clearly describe the life and works of Tarana. In the most difficult moments of her life, she took solace in jazz, and made music her best friend. She healed, inspired and regained faith in herself and her abilities. Passion, love, thirst for knowledge, and a strong desire to set a new mark in the sound of national jazz are integral parts of all the works of jazz singer Tarana Mahmudova. Together with her foreign colleagues, she has recently gave a grand concert at the Mugham Centre in Baku. In her interview with our magazine, Tarana told us about her professional search, fulfilled dreams and personal experiences.

Congratulations on your recent concert at the International Mugham Centre. What are your impressions?

I am super excited! I am lucky indeed. Modern world of music is full of contrasts, and it's sad to watch it degrading. We had a great concert. And what I like the most about it is that I did all this on my own.

You performed with foreign musicians. How could you gather such an international team on stage?

I have been in a state of deep depression after the passing of my father three years ago. Seven months after his death, I realised that I was going crazy. And then I gave my first concert together with Georgian musicians whom I had invited to Baku. My best friend, a gifted jazzman and the best pianist Elbey Mammedzadeh took care of all the organisational arrangements. A year later, I went on stage again. This time it was a jazz festival in Baku. In 2018, I decided that I would give a concert with renowned world musicians. My performance was accompanied by world-class bass guitarist Linley Marthe from France, famous drummer, participant and laureate of international festivals Zaza Tserdtsvadze from Georgia and the talented pianist Elbey Mammedzadeh from Azerbaijan. For me, these musicians are the best in the world. They have long been in the business. Although I am older than they are, I still had a great risk to sing in front of such professionals. Linley always reassured me and gave me a lot of practical advice. I have to admit that he amazed me with his sense of pride, confidence and skills. He is one of the greatest musicians, but there is simplehearted person sitting inside him. He is a nice guy, so to speak. This mix of characters gave him an incredible spiritual beauty. They accepted my invitation, and we gave an incredible concert.

And how did they find Azerbaijani music?

Linley adores our music. He lives in Paris, where everyone loves folk music and jazz. After the rehearsals, I introduced him to the works of Hajibaba Huseynov, Shovket Alakbarova, and Rashid Behbudov. He was delighted. He really likes the East and oriental culture. I have to admit that his interest inspired me to continue my journey in the national jazz. After all, it’s difficult to surprise an American or French musician with traditional jazz. So, it is necessary to improve and promote the national style of jazz.

Azerbaijani jazz is often viewed in synthesis with mugham. Is it possible to make something new?

Yes, Vagif Mustafazadeh left us the synthesis of mugham with traditional jazz. Everyone would feel happy and blessed to play jazz like him, the genius. Nevertheless, each of us should bring something new to music. As every individual is different, musical performance should also be different in style. Each person has individual sound tone and manners. After all, we were born different and should remain the same. Unfortunately, in pop music, musicians try to follow the established path. But I prefer individuality, having my own image and style.

You are also known as a pop singer. But you changed the genre...

Actually, I am a director by profession. But I decided to devote myself to music. Yes, I have performed in pop genre, and I still do at corporate parties to earn for living. I have fans in this genre. If I wanted, I could improve my skills and climb to the top, but I chose jazz. I have been studying jazz for seven years. It opened for me the incredible world of fantasies and unimaginable emotions. I love jazz passionately. I just live in this music. Well, I love to love anyway (laughs). I first get acquainted with jazz when I was 17. I stumbled upon a vinyl record of Billie Holiday and just began to listen. It may sound funny, but I cringed at first. I fretfully threw the disc away. Then I began to think – if this music is so popular, it should have something hidden inside. In the following two years, I have forced myself to listen to jazz just to get the taste of it. I was living in Sumgayit at that time and had friends playing rock music. They advised me to embrace the genre. But it was too late. Suddenly, I realised that I was into jazz and fell in love with it. I was listen to the legends of world jazz, including Vagif Mustafazadeh, Brad Mehldau, Dianne Reeves, Billie Holiday. Great musicians inspire me. Jazz has no boundaries as the classical music. It is open for endless improvisation. But I have always been cautious about improvisation. Yet I made my choice.

You perform Azerbaijani folk songs interpreted in jazz. How do you choose them – by popularity or because you like them?

Definitely not by popularity. We decided to perform the tunes that an ordinary Azerbaijani likes to listen. For example, I’ve sung Lachin at one of my concerts. It was Elbey who advised me to sing it. My first reaction was fear and rejection. I was afraid that I could not do it. It all started when he played the first notes. Our interpretation of Lachin was a lullaby for Lachin (one of the occupied regions of Azerbaijan, R+), which was left alone; no one sings lullabies to her anymore and no one cares about her. I felt the audience crying. I was honoured to perform this song, filling it with touches of love and loss. Because a part of my body is full of love for my Motherland, while the other one is full of jazz. I also sang the song of Akif Islamzadeh, which very few singers had sung before. I am grateful to him for giving me permission to sing this masterpiece. I think it was a successful performance.

The melody of Lachin is what makes every Azerbaijani feel sorry and sad. Can a foreign singer perform it in the same way?

I think every professional musician should first study the history of the song to feel it. Of course, no one can sing Lachin as we can. I did not cry at the rehearsal, but on stage, I could hardly control my emotions. It’s a very difficult song in terms of performance.

What do you feel on stage with musicians from different countries performing the same piece?

Jazz is a style that is just screaming out for synthesis. It is a chance to feel another soul. Jazz is a family where completely different people can become relatives. A joint performance is a stream of information that motivates and inspires. One of the great pianists once noted that the musicians from different countries with different professional experience performing on stage do not just perform, but exchange large-scale information and learn a lot from each other. The same goes for our team; I mean Linley Marthe, Zaza Tsartsvazde and Elbey Mammadzadeh. We indeed learn a lot from each other. We asked each other many questions trying also to clear up the moments that were confusing for us. This mix of information proved useful for everyone. I think of expanding the boundaries of my knowledge and enrich it by participating in various festivals in many countries of the world.

You have ambitious plans for the future…

Yes, I love life and have large-scale plans. After the death of my father, I could hardly control the right side of my body. I was limping. It was a nightmare… Nevertheless, I continued to live, taking my children to kindergarten and chess training club. For three years, I have suffered from physical and moral pains. I believe that we are created to share and receive love. When one feels love for everything, but gets nothing in return, he can lose all feelings and faith. But, fortunately, I get feedback from music, which is always inspiring me. Occasionally, when I am not in the mood in the morning, I listen to jazz. I have the same feeling when I embrace my children. This is an incredible feeling indeed.

Do they understand what their mom does?

Yes, they come to my concerts. Especially the girl is proud of me. She says: “Mom, do they all even know you?” When we are late for school, I scold myself, but she calms me down: “Mom, you're a star. Keep calm!” (laughs). They love jazz and classical music. They fall asleep listening to Mozart and Bach. They have been going to music school since they turned four. But when they grow up, it’s up to them to make a choice, of course. So, we live in harmony with music (smiles).

You said that music was degrading. What is the key factor of degradation – society or musicians?

It is the musicians who set the trends. I cannot blame the society, because people demand what we give them. Musicians are different – some like performing light music to earn for living, while others want to make big money. Our land has given birth to many gifted pianists. Linley says that the best pianists of the post-Soviet space are Azerbaijanis. And I fully share his point of view: Salman Gambarov, Elchin Shirinov, Shahin Novrasli, Isfar Sarabsky, Elbey Mammadzadeh are pianists with international recognition and they’re all from Baku. Many of them work under contracts abroad, and I am proud of each of them. We have many talented musicians in pop music as well. Unfortunately, it is a bit more make a sound path in the jazz, because there is no jazz school in Azerbaijan yet.

What does help you develop and learn?

I constantly work on myself. My teacher in Baku is Tamilla Ahmadova, in Baku. In Georgia, I met a wonderful master of vocal music, Guliko Chanturia. Currently I take her lessons remotely. We often meet when I am in Georgia. She teaches me a lot. I love Aygun Bayramova very much. We are very good friends. I also plan to take lessons from her. And, of course, we learn a lot by giving concerts. I am happy that I can organise concerts in large halls and mini-jazz clubs without any sponsorship. I earn from pop music and invest this money in study of jazz. My Georgian teacher assured me that I was created for jazz. That’s why I continue moving in this direction.

Is there a difference between performing jazz in front of a large audience and in a mini-jazz club?

Of course, there is a big difference. Currently I often perform at the Moon Blue. My audience and I speak the same language of jazz there. As to big concerts, they are a source of great excitement for me, regardless of my previous experience on the stage. I could not imagine that until I was on the stage of a big concert hall. My legs and voice were trembling. The audience feels it. The second time I performed at a jazz festival, where I was less worried. During my third performance, I was feeling more confident and free. I think the further, the better (smiles).

As you know, local musicians rarely perform at the jazz festival in Baku. This was not true about you…

Yes, I was the only performer from Azerbaijan. I wish I could proudly and with all my might represent Azerbaijan at international festivals as well. I have a talent and desire. As Einstein said, the most important thing is a dream, not knowledge. My dreams tend to come true. I gave the concert I had been dreaming about. I invited the musician I wanted to share the stage with. I was very tired after the concert, as if I had a heavy burden on my back, which I left on the stage of the concert hall... But I did it.

So, your dreams come true?

My children were born late but I was patient. I remember what my mom told me at my first concert: “Tarana, remember, you didn’t have any concerts or children. Once you told me that you wished to give a jazz concert where your children would be part of the audience.” So, my favourite twins, who were three years old at that time, were indeed in the concert hall when I had my first performance. It was a blessing. I forgot about those words, but my mom remembered. Dreams come true, even if we forget about them.

What are you dreaming now?

I wish I could travel with my children around the world with concert tours, representing Azerbaijan at festivals.

December 31^st is the Day of Solidarity of Azerbaijanis...

This is an important and wonderful date. It is all about solidarity and unity of our people. It reminds us to be together. Wherever we are, our main goal is to protect the interests of our country, to represent Azerbaijan at the proper level in all areas of activity. We should make every effort to keep the image of Azerbaijan high. I hope that we soon celebrate this date in integral Azerbaijan and sing Lachin in Lachin with tears of joy. I congratulate us on the Day of Solidarity of Azerbaijanis and Happy New Year! I wish everyone all the best, peace and prosperity!