MUGHAM SOULS

Gochag Askarov belongs to a new generation of Mugham musicians - an ecstatic sufi music from Azerbaijan.

 

He started to sing since his youth, studied music and traditional vocals at the Baku Music College and at the National Conservatoire. He began an international career in 2007 when he was invited to perform at BBC and Womad festival in London.

 

In 2009 he won the First Prize of the important International World Music Festival in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, and has been playing in most prestigious world music festivals. He has recorded five albums which were granted with exceptional reviews (called the Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan of mugham), Gochag Askarov performs with uncommon passion this traditional music from Azerbaijan ».

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French vocalist and composer,  Pierre de Trégomain won in 2008 the first prize of french contest Crest Jazz Vocal and became a central figure in vocal jazz: well-known Belgian singer David Linx introduced him in the booklet of his first album « My Cold Song » (2010) as « a high flyer, European jazz à la française » and he was selected by Jazz Magazine among the « most essential male singers ».

 

He toured intensively in clubs and festivals with his Quartet. His passion for improvisation and his quest for transcendent music led him to explore new musical horizons - baroque countertenor and sufi inspired traditions -  which enabled him to deepen his « inner connection » as he says - his ability to link music and emotion.