The Origins and Foundations of Instrumental Jazz Music in Azerbaijan (1920–2024)

Abstract: This is a brief overview of how instrumental jazz music in Azerbaijan (1920–present) evolved and responded to cultural and historical factors. It explores how locally and globally different sociocultural and musical ecosystems shaped the development of music in this country. As a result, it inspires a reevaluation of the nature of this subject from several perspectives and approaches. Chronologically, the Soviet and post-Soviet contexts are reviewed to determine how changes in musical practices, musical languages, traditional musical culture, and aspects of local and global sociopolitical events affected creativity and formed its musical and educational tendencies in Azerbaijan. Globalization and its effects on the formation of the musical landscape and the country’s musical identity are primary foci. The fusion of culture and diverse musical genres emerged as the new trend and tendencies in the region. Within this context, the origins of jazz music and its fusion are explored and explained in more detailed perspectives.