ZULF

Zulfugar Baghirov was born in musicians family, in 1973, Baku, Azerbaijan. He started his music lessons at five years old with Violin and after six years playing it he changed his instrument to Clarinet. While he was a student at Istanbul State University Conservatory Zulf was very interested in jazz music as well and his private teacher, Ayhan Yunkus, introduced him to a jazz music and showed him jazz studies. "Im so grateful to Mr. Yunkus showing me this big door to enter"- Zulf says. During his school years Zulf goes to Italy to attend Berklee School at Umbria Clinics and after graduating from Conservatory Zulf decided to take it further and attend to Berklee College of Music, Boston, as a scholarship student. His private teachers at Berklee were Bill Pierce, Harry Skoler, George Garzone and Jim Odgren. During his studies at Berklee he received another prestigious scholarship named by Joe Viola. This award was given by woodwind department for outstanding achievement in musicianship. Also he was a winner in competition to play a concert on the EXPO 2001 at the Hynes Convention Center with his duo, THE NEWBURY DUO, as Berklee student with Ulkem Ozsezen. After graduation May 2003 he moved to Washington DC. He performed at local top jazz clubs such as Twins Jazz and Lounge, Ellingtons on Eight, HR-57, Utopia and many others. Zulf has recorded several jazz cds as a leader and a sideman. He has recorded with his duo "THE NEWBURY DUO", his own solo recording "The Voice of Darkness" and "The Voice of Darkness II", with Berklee Alumni drummer Gregg "Brennans Shrill Life Sextet", with Berklee Alumni guitarist David Potaux-Razels quintet live "Tales From Stone Age" and studio recording of "Tales From Stone Age" with special guest George Garzone, with Berklee Alumni pianist Misha Tarasov duo "Static", a project with guitarist Erkan Ogur at Kalan Music Studio, and many live performance recordings in US and abroad. Zulfugar himself comes from a long line of Azerbaijani musicians. Perhaps the most prominent was his grandfather on his mother's side, composer Gara Garayev (1918-1982). Zulfs mother, Zuleyha, is a pianist who teaches at a conservatory in Istanbul. Her older brother is composer and music professor Faradj Garayev (1943- ). Zulfs father, Elsad Baghirov (1947- ), is currently the conductor of the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet Orchestra. His father was musicologist Zakir Baghirov (1916-1996), a professor at the Azerbaijan Music Conservatory. When asked to describe what it feels like to grow up in such a musical family, Zulf responds, "I think it's a great opportunity. I feel proud to come from such a famous family. I'm trying my best to live up to their legacy."FOOTPRINTS INTRO VIDEO With EMIL IBRAHIMFOOTPRINTS SOLO EXCERPT 1FOOTPRINTS SOLO EXCERPT 2PARCOURS DE SANTE DUO With DAVID POTAUX-RAZEL