It is our honor to announce that world-famous Natig Rhythm Group will perform @ One Caucasus Festival 2017. The greatest nagara player to emerge from the Caucasus, Natig Shirinov has revolutionized nagara percussion technique to become Azerbaijan's first rhythm composer, touring the world as part of Alim Qasimov's ensemble from 1999 to 2007, now with the Natig Rhythm Group bringing his creative energy with award winning performances and innovative compositions.
During One Caucasus 2017 Natig Rhythm Group (In an extended, 10-person band!) will be working with musicians from other countries and other genres. So beside the one of the greatest shows of live music of Caucasus we will have another premieres of the new international music projects!
Natig with Natig Rhythm Group was awarded the Grand Prix Award at the Geumsan World Percussion Performance Art Festival in 2011. In 2012 and 2014 Natig performed and gave master classes at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland.
Natig Shirinov was born with rhythm. His numerous contributions to Azerbaijani percussion music have set new musical standards, inspiring new directions in the art. He has revolutionized nagara percussion technique to become Azerbaijan's first rhythm composer. At the age of 9, in 1984, Natig began the study of the nagara with teacher Azer Aliyev at Tofig Ismaylov Music School. Each year of study he continued improving his knowledge and technique. At the age of 24 Natig received an invitation from Alim Qasimov, master of Muğam, to step into his professional career. With this group he toured the world from 1999-2007: the United States, England, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Austria, Iran, Morocco, Romania, China, Poland, Korea, Russia, Serbia and Turkey. On these tours Natig was inspired by the revolutionary performances of Mısırlı Ahmet, master of darbuka and Zakir Hussain, master of tabla. He began to compose new rhythms for the nagara.
In 2001 he founded “Natig Rhythm Group” with five performers. Besides the nagara, he included old Azeri instruments such as zurna, balaban, and tutek (whistle flute) to the group. In 2002 in the search again for new rhythms he learned the tabla at the Council of India in Moscow, and began to synthesize Azerbaijani rhythms with world rhythms.
Natig recorded his albums “My World” in 2004 and “My World II” in 2006. He included compositions using different types of nagaras, such as bam, boyuk, dari, dovul, kut, qopuzlu, qosha, zang, and zil on these albums. Within traditional Azerbaijani folk music he introduced new directions and rhythms in his compositions. Natig and Natig Rhythm Group performed in many international festivals (in such countries as Belgium, France, Germany, Malaysia, Morocco, Poland, Romania, Russia, Taiwan) and were numerously awarded.
Natig Rhythm Group together with the State Dance Ensemble performed at the grand opening of the support concert for The Eurovision Song Contest in Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Serbia in 2008. Natig with Natig Rhythm Group was awarded the Grand Prix Award at the Geumsan World Percussion Performance Art Festival in 2011. And two years in a row Natig Rhythm Group headlined the Royal Belum World Drums Festival (2011/2012) in Malaysia. Natig Rhythm Group was a featured performer for the live televised opening and closing ceremony of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2012 in Azerbaijan.
Natig Rhythm Group was the opening act for world superstar Rihanna at her concert in Baku, Azerbaijan in 2012. In 2012 and 2014 Natig performed and gave master classes at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. In 2015 Natig Rhythm Group performed in the opening ceremonies of the first European Games.
