IMPROVISATION AND FREEDOM

Sahin Novrasli is a pianist with great musical potential. In a short time, he conquered the most discerning connoisseurs and professionals around the world. Sahin is the author of many compositions and interpretations of folk songs in jazz style. In a relatively short time, he released several albums and travelled around Europe and the USA with concerts. Sahin Novrasli has participated in all the Baku jazz festivals in recent years.

- You have been engaged in music from a very early age. As a child, did you want to quit all those endless scales and etudes and play football with your peers?

- Yes, I did. I watched through the window when next door boys played football, and I certainly wanted to join them. But every time I returned to the piano and music. Even in childhood, music was more important to me. I sat down at the piano, carefully did my homework, and then rushed to my friends with a clear conscience.

- Your parents are not musicians. Please tell us how and on whose initiative you started to study music?

 - In childhood, I knew I would be a musician, and all these, as you pointed out, endless scales and etudes were my own choice. My parents never forced me to go to a music school. When I was five years old, they noticed that I had a hearing. I loved to listen to music, sometimes I sang something myself. Then they took me to a music school. A year later, I began to compose unpretentious melodies, and at eleven I performed Concert c-dur by Azar Rzayev with the Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Faiq Mustafayev in the Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Hall. Then I was transferred to the Bulbul music school. I studied with the wonderful teacher Gulya Namazova. In this period I won the Young Pianist contest and successfully performed a solo in many competitions and festivals, performing works by Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin and Rachmaninoff. As for my parents, even though they are not musicians, they are incredibly musical. Dad graduated from the Plekhanov Russian Economic University, taught at the Azerbaijan State Economic University, and then worked in the Ministry of Education for a long time. My mother worked in the agricultural industry all her life. She loves to sing. She has an amazing voice! Dad plays the tar very well. My parents always wanted me to be a musician, play on big stages and glorify my country. I am trying to live up to their expectations.

- Sahin, why jazz?

- For me, jazz is an improvisation and freedom. It is music that gives me the opportunity to express myself. It all started when I first heard a tape with recordings of Vaqif Mustafazada. After that, I had a strong interest in improvisation and jazz. But before I came to jazz, I went through a professional school of classical music - I graduated from the Bulbul music school and the Baku Music Academy, and played for 10-12 hours a day sparing no effort and time. After graduating from the academy, I realized that jazz is my genre and my place. You can synthesize jazz with classical music, folk tunes and your own compositions.

- Recently, the synthesis of jazz and mugam has become important in the world of music. What do you think is the secret of the popularity of the new musical trend?

- Such a trend is observed in many countries today. People are tired of hearing the same thing. They are tired of the domination of monotonous pop music. They want diversity and new sounds. Ethnic and national motifs blended with jazz are a unique hybrid that successfully combines the traditions of the East and the West. It's delicious and unusual. When my American musician friends first heard jazz-mugam, they immediately said that this music is sure to become popular in the West. It happened. Abroad, our jazz-mugam is a great success. When I perform before foreigners, I see their genuine interest in this music.

- What musical instruments do you play besides the piano?

- Several years ago I decided that I should certainly learn to perform mugam. I worked on my voice for two years and learnt the basics of singing from Abulfaz Daryagi. My wife Natavan Novrasli, honoured artist of Azerbaijan, helped me with more professional advice on vocal art. And, of course, I listened to our elderly singers. And after the concert with Alim Qasimov, I was very impressed and thought for a long time, and that's when I began to have ideas that no one but me would realize. Today, at each concert I allocate 15-20 minutes to mugam and sing myself. It gives me incredible pleasure! As to your question about the musical instrument I would like to master, there is one idea. I'd like to learn to play one of them. I will not say what exactly. Let it be a surprise for everyone. I'd like a new sound that sounds perfectly well in jazz. There are a lot of ideas and I want to do as much as possible and in good time.

- You recently appeared on stage with Nino Katamadze. Who else from the world of celebrities do you want to play with?

- A well-known American jazz musician Keith Jarrett. But he will be 70 years old soon, and I do not think he would play with someone in tandem. There is also a talented musician Brad Mehldau. I spoke with him recently. He spoke well about my music and my performance. It would be possible to organize a duet with him. I've got this idea. And I hope we will succeed.

- What is your view of modern jazz?

- I think modern jazz is a complete improvisation, freedom and individuality. Once again, I note that it is not commercial or mass music. But at the same time, there is a good system of jazz concerts in the world, and you feel like a part of this world. Our state provides a lot of support for Azerbaijani art. Each year various international music festivals, including jazz festivals, are held. We are visited by the brightest musicians and performers. Azerbaijani music is actively promoted all over the world. And it makes me very happy.

- I wonder what music Sahin Novrasli listens to in his leisure time.

- When I relax, I listen to the silence. Sometimes I turn on Keith Jarrett or something of my own compositions when I drive, because a musician must listen to himself too in order to find errors and omissions in his performance. You know, I love good, quality music. I don't like pop music.

- What about your brother Nurlan? He sings pop music too.

- Yes, he is talented and gifted, and I like the way he sings, but in general, our stage does not suit me. It is developing in the wrong direction. Everyone is fixated on money and their own promotion. Even the most talented ones eventually adjust to the others and lose their individuality.

- Last year the Novrasli-4 concert was successfully held at the Heydar Aliyev Palace, and it was attended by three of your brothers. Does this project still exist?

- The concert was brilliant! I improvised in the style of jazz-mugam. Arslan, as always, surprised the audience with the sounds of "Mandolin" from the movie "The Godfather", performed on the tar, Nurlan sang both classical and our national songs and played the kamancha while Tarlan conquered the audience with his poems "Umid", "Sukur "and" Azerbaijan", accompanied by the stage productions of Pantomime Theatre. Everything turned out so harmonious and beautiful that we decided to extend the project.

- So why don't the Novrasli brothers set up their own group and perform on the same stage all the time?

- Recently my brothers and I participated in an interesting photo shoot for one of the local magazines. We were dressed in the same clothes as the Beatles and had the same hairstyle. The photos were excellent... In general, I find it very easy to work with my brothers. But I believe that each of us must do their own thing. Yes, we have a joint project, but we do not want to fall under the influence of pop music. We are not thinking about the financial side of the project. For us professionalism and good quality music are the priority.

- Tell us about your family. As far as we know, the profession of your spouse is also related to music?

- We met in the first year at the Music Academy and have been together for more than 15 years. I am happy that I met Natavan. We have the same outlook on life, the same goals in life. And she is very patient. Not everyone will bear my rhythm of life. I am a creative person, and I often have mood swings. Natavan always supports and inspires me. She is a musician herself. She understands music. We have a wonderful family, and I am very happy! I always say and I will say that for me family comes first. We have a wonderful son. Mirsamad is five years old, and he is already attending classes with my teacher Gulya Namazova. He has a great hearing. He likes to listen to music. And he listens to classical music, jazz and mugam. Like me, he does not like pop music. He is small and sometimes shirks playing music at home. And I don't force him to practice for hours, because I remember myself at his age. I want my son to have normal childhood. He likes to play music, and let him do it when he has the desire. Of course, I would very much like my son to continue my business. For the time being, he has a great interest in music. And what will happen then ... we will see...