Shahin Novrasli

Shahin Novrasli (born February 10, 1977) is an Azerbaijani jazz pianist.

Shahin Novrasli was born in Baku.^[1] Shahin Novrasli showed interest in music from the age of three and when he was five his parents noticed his musical talent and gave him to fortepiano class of a musical school. At the age of 11, Shahin performed at Azer Mustafayev’s concert in Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Hall with a symphonic orchestra led by Faig Mustafayev . After this performance Shahin was transferred to a secondary music school named after Bulbul at his teachers’ insistence. In this period he became a winner of a “Young pianist” contest and successfully performed a solo at many concerts and festivals, performing compositions of Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin and Rachmaninoff. Shahin directed to jazz music, precisely to its Azerbaijani version – jazz-mugham, under the influence of Vagif Mustafazadeh.

In 1996, Shahin entered Azerbaijan State Conservatoire named after Uzeyir Hajibeyov and after finishing education in 2000, he engaged in jazz music seriously, performing compositions of Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea, Bill Evans and others.

In 1999, Shahin Novrasli composed his own compositions – “Sevda Shelalesi” (“Waterfall of passionate love”) and “1001 gece” (“1001 nights”), interpreted national songs in jazz style.^[2] In these years Shahin Novrasli released two albums, also performed in the USA, Italy, Turkey and Russia. Shahin Novrasli is participant of such international jazz festivals of last years as Caspian Jazz & Blues Festival (Baku, Azerbaijan), Hot Summer Jazz Festival (Minneapolis, USA), Black Sea Jazz Festival (Sochi, Russia), Antalya International Piano Festival (Turkey), Baku International Jazz Festival and East-West Jazz Festival (France).

The year 2007 was marked by Shahin Novrasli’s splendid performance at “Montreux Jazz Festival” in Switzerland, where he was conferred a silver medal.^[3]

Shahin’s projects are – “Eternal Way” jazz quintet with folk instruments with participation of Nathan Peck,^[4] Alexander Mashin, Arslan and Nurlan Novrasli; “Clajamu” jazz solo-concert - a classical solo project (a program consisting of Mozart's and Bach’s compositions) are frequently presented to public in all countries of the world and were recorded to discs. Shahin performed with Kenny Wheeler, Uday Mazumdar, Ellison Miller, Nathan Peck, Alex Peck, Matt Zebroski, Jeff Lederer, John Wilcan, Alim Qasimov, and other famous musicians.^[5] The eastern and western traditions, synthesis of jazz and traditional Azerbaijani music – mugham are reflected in Shahin Novrasli’s music. Deeply learning sources of mugham, Shahin synthesized its melodies with rhythms of traditional jazz and elements of polyphony.

Shahin Novrasli is one of the participants of “Buta: Festival of Azerbaijani Culture” project held in London from November, 2009 to March, 2010. On November 25, 2009 Novrasli performed at Queen Elizabeth Hall together with Iain Ballamy and Tim Garland mixing jazz with traditional Azerbaijani music – mugham and performing Azerbaijani jazz-mugham. On November 26, 2009 he performed at “606 Club” in London with participation of Iain Ballamy, Tim Garland and Malcolm Creese.^[6]

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