A Journey Where Music Finds Community: An Interview with Afgan Rasul

I believe theory is the math part of music. You can show ideas, but you can’t teach someone how to compose with passion, because to me music is art.

Afgan Rasul

An internationally acclaimed Azerbaijani immigrant finds community in Canada through his musical talent and volunteer outreach.

New Beginnings

Afgan Rasul’s story is about his affinity for music and his search for community in Canada. He is an accomplished jazz pianist based in Baku, Azerbaijan — a country whose identity is rooted in Turkic culture and language. In January 2025, Afgan moved to British Columbia, Canada to study at Capilano University.

His initial impressions of British Columbia were overwhelmingly positive. He was captivated by the landscapes and the amicable nature of the people. However, the lack of Azerbaijani folk in British Columbia as well as learning a new language, hindered Afgan’s ability to adapt to Canada. He remembers struggling to get out of his comfort zone by practicing English every day but persisted in interacting with new people to find community,

“You need to push yourself to be part of this society. Don’t hesitate to connect with people” – he emphasized.

Volunteering Through Music

Afgan's path to community in Canada began through his English teacher at Capilano University, Carrie Jung, who introduced him to Stan de Mello, a Board Member of the PCHC Museum of Migration (PCHC MoM). Since then, Afgan has become a volunteer for the Museum, a role that has given him the opportunity to perform his music and display his talent to a new audience that has encouraged him to persist with his musical endeavours.

He has performed at events such as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Asian Heritage Month Event and at Haryali’s during PCHC new office opening day, where he used music to enhance the atmosphere of each event and encourage connection among attendees.

Afgan fondly remembers learning about the richness of Asian culture at the Asian Heritage Month Event and meeting PCHC musicians at Haryali’s. However, what left the most profound impression on him was hearing the poignant stories of marginalized individuals at the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, as he saw empathy and healing from conversations about times individuals were subjected to systemic racism.

“It's beautiful that these stories are being talked about so the new generation does not make the same mistakes as the past.” – Afgan reminisces.

Thanks to his musical upbringing, Afgan is always seeking opportunities to improve both his music and his English. He gained experience as a musician in Azerbaijan, attending Baku Music College and Baku Academy of Music. Now, he is solely focused on how he can build a thriving musical career in Canada.

The Musical Seed

Afgan’s musical journey began when he started learning piano [1] at sixteen, a late start for most musicians, who often begin in childhood. Undeterred, he learned piano from his mother, who was self-taught. Despite a late start, Afgan was determined to master the instrument unwaveringly.

A pivotal moment in his musician identity came when he discovered  Oscar Peterson, often regarded as one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time. Once Afgan heard Peterson’s music, he knew he wanted to pursue music as his life’s path. He describes Peterson’s style as innovative and distinctly recognizable — a style that in his view, cannot be replicated.

“He was unique. I don't think someone will play like him in the future. Some musicians are not just musicians. They're big, influential, different.” – he says.

 Afgan’s affinity for jazz expanded through listening to artists like Bill Evans, Miles Davis, and Vagif Mustafazadeh. Later, he studied classical composers such as Mozart, Beethoven, and Bach, which helped him deepen his understanding of jazz’s technical structure, especially improvisation.

 “The knowledge from composers such as Mozart, Beethoven and Bach pushed me to understand jazz” – he recalls.

“When you improvise, it’s not just going up and down the scale, you need to learn how that process was created; how Beethoven improvised.”

To gain performance experience, Afgan played at Baku Jazz Clubs for five years as part of a jazz trio, alongside a bassist and a drummer. He also performed several times at the Baku Jazz Festival, refining his stage presence and improvisation skills.

Vision of The Future

For Afgan, music is beyond theory or a pleasant melody; it is about the passion and creative expression required to make something meaningful.

“I believe theory is the math part of music. You can show ideas, but you can’t teach someone how to compose with passion, because to me music is art.”

Afgan’s current style leans towards contemporary and modernized jazz, but he is passionately developing a sound that represents his Azerbaijani heritage fused with his evolving perspective of jazz. He envisions a blend of Western and Eastern jazz, bringing together contrasting elements of both traditions. These two sub-genres of jazz are juxtaposed by their instrumentation, rhythmic patterns, and harmonic structure.

Western jazz typically features acoustic instruments, conventional rhythms, and major/minor scales, while Eastern jazz incorporates traditional instruments, unconventional rhythms, and pentatonic scales. Through this blend, Afgan’s ambition only continues to grow. He dreams of performing more concerts and eventually producing an album that blends these two jazz sub-genres.

Ultimately, Afgan Rasul’s story is a beautiful demonstration of how one's unwavering passion for music can build a bridge, leading to a vibrant sense of community and belonging. From a remarkable jazz pianist in Azerbaijan, he has now found a welcoming home within the Museum of Migration, a community that deeply appreciates his extraordinary talent and boundless ambition.

Works Cited

• Autumn. "Mugham Jazz: Vagif Mustafazade." Azerbaijan International 3 12 2004: 62-69.

• Collegework guide. 13 10 2022. 04 07 2025.

• Golwala, Nafisa. "United Nations Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination." 24 March 2025.

• King, Betty Nygaard. "Oscar Peterson." 3 September 2013. 1 July 2025.

• Rasul, Afgan. A Journey of Music Ambition and Finding Community: An Interview with Afgan Rasul Javier Tarazona. 25 June 2025.

[1] Azerbaijan has a rich history of integrating the piano into its national identity and musical traditions. Notable jazz pianists like Vagif Mustafazadeh are celebrated for their groundbreaking fusion of jazz with mugham, a traditional Azerbaijani musical form.