Elchin Shirinov: Young star in national jazz

/By AzerNews/

By Amina Nazarli

Elchin Shirinov, young, but one of a few Azerbaijani jazz pianists, who has been able to conquer million of hearts not only in the country, but far from its borders, thrills up the souls of many lovers with his enigmatic music.

Listening how his hands glide over the snow-white piano keys, one seems to get into the mysterious world.

Many music enthusiasts from France, Switzerland, Germany, Malaysia and other countries, where he praised the national jazz, already familiar with his unusual talent.

He has an ear for impressionable melodies. His music sounds do not play like a standard jazz, but with extra percussion that provides the Azerbaijani spirit.

The musician has a unique talent making careful synthesizes of African American music and mugham, a unique national music, which leads one to quite a different world, that is full of music and love.

Even more impressive, Elchin’s fingers work their magic on the keyboard with his catchy themes built into virtuosic architecture.

This 33-year-old young pianist, with no music education, has participated in such significant events as the 2010 and 2013 Voicingers International Jazz Festival in Poland and 2013 Montreux Jazz Festival, and this proves that one becomes the musician not by deeds but by birth.

Elchin felt attraction to music since childhood, when the piano in their home, like a magnet drew him to itself. Every morning, sitting behind the musical instrument, little Elchin tried to pick up a melody to surprise his brothers, who are also musicians.

His elder brother did not remain indifferent to the desire of his little brother, and began to encourage him, buying Elchin different tapes for improvement.

However, his fate completely changed, when, once, young Elchin heard a live play of renown national jazz pianist Vagif Sadikhov, with whom he immediately rushed to become acquainted and even offered the famous musician to become his teacher.

Indeed, Elchin did not graduate from music school, however, he took lessons from the best world jazz pianists such as Kevin Hayes and Aaron Goldberg.

The talented musician has lived and studied in America for a long time, performing in many clubs and learning a lot from their foreign counterparts.

“I am very happy because I do what I love,” said Elchin. “I always dreamed of regular rehearsals, tours, concerts, and now my dream has come true. For me, any work in music is a delight.”

Recently, the pianist impressed his fans with a concert held within the 13th Baku International Jazz Festival, which brought together many eminent world jazz musicians.

Alongside jazz, Elchin, for more than seven years of doing yoga, now is teaching yoga in one of the local studios. He also likes horse riding, cycling and reading esoteric books.