Updated: March 7, 2025
Born: March 16, 1940 | Died: December 16, 1979
Vagif Mustafa-Zadeh - jazz composer and pianist, is among those rare musicians who could play and perform in any manner. Vagif attracts listeners by his originality, superb technique and harmonies all his own. Besides writing a number of his own jazz compositions and arrangements, Mustafa-Zadeh composed Concert for Piano and Orchestra being a great success. At the International Jazz Compositions Competition in Monaco 1978 V. Mustafa-Zadeh won the First Prize for the piece "Expecting Aziza".
Vagif Mustafa Zadeh was the art director of jazz-trio "Kaukas", "Leyli", "Sevil", "Mugam" jazz ensemble. He died on stage, just after he'd played his favorite piece, the Gerschwin tune "The Man I Love".
Awards
1 Prize for the piece "Waiting For Aziza", Monaco 1978, International Compositions Competition.
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Vagif Mustafa-Zadeh: Azerbaijan's Jazz Pioneer
by Mehman N Mamedov
March 16, 2025, would mark the 85th birthday of one of the most outstanding jazz composers and performers, Vagif Mustafa-Zadeh. He can be considered a pioneer of ethno-jazz in the Soviet Union and, on a global scale, a unique and virtuoso jazz performer and composer who fused ancient Eastern musical traditions with Western music. First steps in music Vagif Mustafa-Zadeh was born on March 16, 1940 in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. His father, a military doctor, originally ...
Continue Reading"Vagif Mustafa Zadeh was a great Genie, but I think he was born before his time. Vagif's music is from another planet... It's the Music from the Future." Dizzy Gillespie, Washington, 1988.
"Vagif's music wonderfully modern... It's like a tale narrated by Sheherezadeh on the 1002 Night... " --Jan Johansson, Tallinn 1967.
"Vagif Mustafa Zadeh is one of the finest pianists in the world." --David Becker, President of IAJE (International Association of Jazz Educators).
