Gochag Askarov (Azerbaijan)
As a figurehead of Azerbaijani mugham music – classified by UNESCO as a masterpiece of the world’s verbal and non-material heritage – Gochag Askarov is a singer of extraordinary ability. Hailing from the Garabaq district of Azerbaijan, which is famous throughout the Caucasus region of south eastern Europe for producing singers with beautiful voices, Gochag became one of laureates of the TV competition Mugham Star, which led to him embarking on tours though the UK and US in 2006. After graduating from the Azerbaijan National Conservatoire in 2008, he released his first CD Music from Azerbaijan, showcasing his voice that is high in pitch, yet soft and rich in timbre. Gochag mostly performs with the Khary Bulbul ensemble, headed by Aliaqa Sadiyev, a talented player of the tar (a long-necked lute with 22 moveable frets) who studied the secrets of the art of mugham with Azerbaijani master musician Malik Mansurov. Also in the ensemble is Elshan Mansurov on kamancha (a four-stringed spike fiddle), Shirzad Fataliyev on balaban and zurna (two types of double reed pipes) and percussionist Kamran Kerimov on naqara (a double headed drum). Backed by centuries-old instrumental motifs, Gochag’s voice makes a plaintive sound that recalls the late, great Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.