About Zulfugar Baghirov “Mr. Z”
Zulfugar Baghirov is a jazz saxophone and clarinet performer and an educator with over 20 years of professional experience.
Zulfugar regularly performs both as a group leader and a sideman at jazz venues in Washington, D.C. and New York, NY. In 2007, he and his “ZJAZZ Quartet” were invited to the Baku International Jazz Festival in Azerbaijan. In 2009, he played at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland with his “Zulfugar Baghirov Quartet.”
He has several recordings, among which a “QaraBag” album represents his free interpretation of classical music works of both of his grandfathers (Kara Karayev and Zakir Baghirov) and an uncle (Faradj Karayev), renown Soviet and Azerbaijani composers.
Zulfugar holds a Bachelor of Arts in classical clarinet performance from the Istanbul University State Conservatory and a professional music diploma with honors from Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. He received his Master of Music degree in jazz saxophone performance from New York University.
