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Thus, in mid-May, the Azerbaijani musicians came to perform two concerts in the United States to mark the 85th anniversary of Azerbaijan’s late president Heydar Aliyev. First took place at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley and the second one was in Ojai. Watching the musicians and the audience at the latter event, I knew that it was the right place. There just seemed to be a connection between listeners and performers. One reason behind this was the music itself.

In Azerbaijan’s culture, Mugham holds a very special role. In 2003, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognized Mugham as a “Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity”. This is further illustrated by the fact that Azerbaijan’s First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva is UNESCO’s Goodwill Ambassador for the oral and musical traditions. According to most accepted view, Mugham comes’ from Muslim call for prayer. Clearly, the roots of this musical tradition are spiritual, and, as such, it carries a universal appeal and transcends religious and geographic boundaries.

More important, it seems, was the openness of audience and its ability to feel the passion musicians put into their performance. Talking to performers later, I kept hearing about the good energy they received from the audience in Ojai. While this can be a natural response to hearing a part of the world’s intangible heritage, it takes listeners able to appreciate it. That good energy was abundantly clear later in the evening during the post-concert reception at the Glen Muse, where an informal performance turned into a Mugham jam session. All this could not have happened without enthusiastic support from Ojai’s Torek Helson and Katherine Thomas as well as Darakshan Dave Farber.

Of course, the concert in Ojai was not only about Mugham; it did include other elements of Azerbaijani music and some rather fiery folks dances. And I mean fiery, because one of the dancers, Dayanat, finally got his wish of throwing burning knives from his mouth while dancing. Azerbaijan is known as the “land of fire” because of its Zoroastrian heritage, but we usually don’t try that kind of dancing at home. Therefore, just as many in the audience, I was a little nervous too. Dayanat was not the only happy performer. The others, too, later told me that the informal part and staying at the Glen Muse were the highlights of the trip to the United States.

By being able to connect to people in Ojai in spite of the language barrier and cultural difference, the Azerbaijani musicians, who traveled literally half-way around the world, felt at home. This is a tribute both to the universality of music and to the hospitality of Ojai’s people. There is, perhaps, a deeper connection as well; one that reflects a shared recognition of the importance of diversity and tolerance. For instance, this year, the Azerbaijanis mark the 90th anniversary of establishment of the first parliamentary republic in the Muslim world. This republic, which gave equal voting rights to men and women alike as early as in 1918, i.e. earlier than the United States, emerged at the historic cross-roads of civilizations and cultures. The same influences and diversity that shaped Azerbaijan’s society also impacted on its music, and the music helped Azerbaijani performers build bridges in California.

Elin Suleymanov is Consul General of Azerbaijan in Los Angeles. For more information about Azerbaijan and the Consulate General visit www.azconsulatela.org