Stockholm: The Diplomatic World Sweden website, designed for diplomats, politicians, members of the diplomatic corps, and embassies in Sweden, has published an article on the documentary film ‘History of Folk Jazz from West to East,’ dedicated to International Jazz Day. The film, by Swedish photographer and director Mikael Silkeberg, explores a musical dialogue between Sweden and Azerbaijan, where jazz merges with folk traditions.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the narrative begins in Stockholm, referencing pianist Jan Johansson’s album “Jazz p¥ svenska” (Jazz in Swedish), which has become a cornerstone of Swedish musical culture. The focus then shifts to the musician’s meeting with the founder of Azerbaijani jazz, Vagif Mustafazade, at the 1966 Tallinn Jazz Festival.
The article highlights that Vagif Mustafazade pioneered a new musical direction by blending jazz with mugham-an ancient Azerbaijani modal music tradition known for its microtonality, complex structure, and improvisational depth. This encounter revealed striking similarities between Swedish folk jazz and Azerbaijani jazz-mugham.
The film also takes viewers to Baku, which has become a key center for musical synthesis due to its geographical position. The author concludes that despite restrictions during the Soviet era, jazz continued to develop in Azerbaijan, and Baku earned a reputation as one of the leading jazz centers.