Shahin Novrasli - Live in Marciac (2019) (Live In Marciac) (2024)

Pianist and composer Shahin Novrasli is an elegant performer whose music touches upon classical, jazz, and his native Azerbaijan folk traditions. Emerging in the late '90s, Novrasli has issued a handful of small group albums, including 2003's Eternal Way, 201's Bayati, and 2017's Emanation.

Born in 1977 in Baku, Azerbaijan, Novrasli grew up in an intellectually minded family with a professor father and an economist mother. He is also a descendant of famed 19th century Azerbaijani poet Mirza Alesker Novres. A pianist from a young age, Novrasli performed throughout his adolescence and eventually graduated from both the Bulbul Music School, and the Azerbaijan State Music Academy. During these years, he studied both classical and jazz, inspired by artists like Ahmad Jamal, Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, and Chick Corea. He also dove into the music of Azerbaijani jazz pianist Vagif Mustafazadeh, whose playing was an early inspiration for synthesizing jazz and traditional Azerbaijani Mugham music.

Following school, he launched his career touring America and Europe in the late '90s and leading small and large ensembles. In 2000, he made his recorded debut with the trio date J'z Mu, followed by a 2001 concert album, and 2003's quintet session Eternal Way. In 2006, he issued a second concert album, Live in Prague Castle, with bassist Nathan Peck, drummer Sasha Mashin, and saxophonist Chris Hemingway. The trio album Bayati arrived in 2013 and again featured Peck, along with drummer Ari Hoenig. Novrasli then showcased his quintet on 2017's Emanation, featuring bassist James Cammack, drummer Andre Ceccarelli, percussionist Irakli Koiava, and violinist Didier Lockwood. In 2019, he released From Baku to New York City, with bassist Cammack, and former Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra drummer Herlin Riley. ~ Matt Collar