Yaghoub Zoroofchi

Yaghoub Zoroofchi, the greatest Azari vocalist of our time, started his singing career at age of eight in the Children's Program at Radio Tabriz in Iran and later on in Tabriz Television. After his vocal training at The Academy of Arts in Tabriz, he studied classical vocals and opera for seven years under the guidance of Mr. Rezazadeh, Jinini from Italy and William McKenny from England. He traveled to Germany and in 1986 performed at a concert with the master Rashid Behboodov in the city of Mannheim in Germany.

The turning point in his professional life was in 1989, performing in Baku for an audience of over one million people. In this collection he performs two 33 years old songs from another Master "Bol Bol" — Sogoli Janan and San Seez — which demonstrates Zoroofchi's exceptional ability and command in singing the tenor range.

You will be fascinated by Zoroofchi's rich and warm operatic voice. His two Masterpiece albums are "Best of Zoroofchi" accompanied by "Azerbaijan's National Orchestra" and "Arezoo" accompanied by "Azerbaijan State Symphony Orchestra" — both on X DOT 25 Music Label.

Review by Angel Romero — World Music Central · February 18, 2018

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★ One of His Last Interviews · In Azerbaijani ★

In this six-minute interview — one of his last, recorded in Azerbaijani — Yaghoub Zoroofchi sings Vatan Ara, from the classic Best of Zoroofchi album and now on the Azərbaycan remaster. It was posted on March 26, 2021 — less than six months before his passing on September 14, 2021.

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New Release

In memoriam — fifth anniversary

★ Coming Soon · Fifth Anniversary Memorial Edition ★

Azərbaycan

Yaghoub Zoroofchi · Yaqub Zurufçu • Remastered · In the Original Azerbaijani

Azərbaycan gathers the songs Azeris have loved longest — a collection of revered works by the great masters of Azerbaijani composition, performed in Baku by the Azerbaijan National Orchestra on the indigenous instruments this music was written for: tar, kamancheh, duduk, and the traditional ensemble around them. It takes its name from Azərbaycan, the song at its heart.

Carrying them is a voice of rare size. Yaghoub Zoroofchi sang with the discipline of the great operatic tenors — the instrument of a Pavarotti or a Bocelli — but turned it toward the songs of his own people, standing in the direct line of Rashid Behbudov, the singer he shared a stage with in Mannheim in 1986. Warm, unforced, enormous at the top.

Every track has been carefully remastered from the original tapes, opening up the orchestra behind him and restoring the presence of a voice recorded decades ago. Just as importantly, the release is presented as it was sung: all metadata, song titles, and complete lyrics appear in the original Azerbaijani — not transliterated, not translated away.

Zoroofchi died in Baku in September 2021, in the city where he had made his home and where, in 1989, he sang for an audience of over a million people. Azərbaycan marks the fifth anniversary of his passing. Its symphonic companion, Arzum, follows alongside it.

★ Out Now · Fifth Anniversary Memorial Edition ★

Arzum

Yaqub Zurufçu & Azərbaycan Dövlət Simfonik Orkestri • Remastered · In the Original Azerbaijani

Arzum is the symphonic companion to Azərbaycan — the same tradition of beloved Azeri song, lifted into full orchestral setting. Recorded in Baku with the 120-piece Azerbaijan State Symphony Orchestra under conductor Ismayil Hajiyev, it draws on the masters of Azerbaijani composition — Niyazi, Fikrat Amirov, Haji Bakeov, Ali Salimi — and is dedicated to Uzeyir Hajibeyov, the father of Azerbaijani classical music and opera.

Where Azərbaycan places Zoroofchi’s tenor among tar, kamancheh, and duduk, Arzum sets the same voice against strings — silken, cinematic writing that recalls the great film scores of the 1940s and ’50s, with the melodies of the Caucasus at their center. Over an hour of western classical instrumentation carrying music that has never needed translating.

Every track has been carefully remastered from the original tapes. As with its companion, the release is presented as it was sung: all metadata, song titles, and complete lyrics appear in the original Azerbaijani — not transliterated, not translated away.

Arzum arrives alongside Azərbaycan to mark the fifth anniversary of Zoroofchi’s passing in Baku in September 2021 — two halves of one legacy: the songs on the instruments they were written for, and the songs as symphony.

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Albums

★ Released October 10, 1996 · ©&℗1996 X DOT 25 Music ★

Arezoo (Longing)

Symphonic Orchestra / Vocal / Classical • Item # CD 2005-2

▶ Spotify ▶ Apple ▶ YouTube

A symphonic recording of some of the most romantic and moving Azerbaijani classical pieces by composers such as Niyazi, Haji Bakeov, Fikrat Amirov, Ali Salimi and others. Performed by the 120-piece Azerbaijan State Symphony Orchestra, this recording features over one hour of a dramatic combination of western classical instrumentation with some of the most beautiful melodies of central Asia, accompanying Zoroofchi's vocal wizardry.

"Arezoo" features the outstanding tenor voice of Yaghoub Zoroofchi soaring over the gorgeous, silken timbres created by the Azerbaijan State Symphony Orchestra. The string arrangements are reminiscent of 1940s and 50s big budget movie soundtracks. Combining Zoroofchi's vocal styling with the evocative symphonic textures created by the Azerbaijan State Symphony Orchestra and the compositions of Uzeyir Hajibeyov makes for a magical listening experience.

Artist(s): Yaghoub Zoroofchi & Azerbaijan State Symphony Orchestra — Conducted by Ismayil Hajiyev

Dedicated to Uzeyir Hajibeyov — one of the most prominent figures in the music and culture of Azerbaijan.

1. Ârézoo 6:10
2. Sandan Mané yâr Ulmâz 1:44
3. Khumâr Uldum 4:11
4. Gal, Gal 1:58
5. Dard'mand 4:00
6. Band Uldum 2:14
7. Âyriliqh 5:50
8. Nigâr 3:03
9. Kür Arab 6:05
10. So'golî Jânân 2:39
11. Méhr'bân 3:11
12. Qharanfîl 2:30
13. San Siz 4:13
14. Méhr'bân (Reprise) 2:37

Total Time: 51:19

Executive Producers: X DOT 25 Music

Recorded at: 42nd Studio, North Hollywood

Recorded and Mixed by: Yousef Shahab

Conceived and executed by: X DOT 25 Music

Mastered by: X DOT 25 Music & Daniel Wyman

All literature on tracks and texts by: Koorosh Angali

Package Design & Computer support by: Koorosh Angali

Track Notes

Ayrılıq — Separation

Ayrılıq means "Separation" — an Azerbaijani folk song circa 1957 about separation and love. It is one of the most well known Azerbaijani songs. Music: Ali Salimi · Words: Rajab (Farhad) Ebrahimi. The separation of Northern Azerbaijan from Southern (Iranian) Azerbaijan created separation of the Azeri people.

Gal, Gal — Come! Come!

An aria from the opera "Ârshîn Mâl Âlân" by Uzeyir Hajibeyov. The lover recalls the moment he and his beloved met and suggests they enjoy the kind of love that King Solomon did.

Nigâr — The Beloved One

An aria from the renowned opera "Kür-üghli" by Uzeyir Hajibeyov. The unfortunate lover complains that the tyrannous Khan has kept his beloved captive and decides to face the Khan to free his lover, even at the cost of his life.

Kür Arab — The Blind Arab

Music: Fikrat Amirov · Words: Husain Jâvîd. A political figure in the history of Azerbaijan, this song is dedicated to a legendary hero. A profound meditation on existence beyond categories of love, creation, pain, or joy.

So'golî Jânân — The Favorite One

Music: Uzeyir Hajibeyov · Words: Nezâmî Gandjavî (6th C.H. Persian poet and philosopher). "Thou art the grandest of all creation. Tender me and grant me thine kiss." A traditional love song representing both the poetry and music of the era.

San Siz — Without You

Music: Uzeyir Hajibeyov · Words: Nezâmî Gandjavî. The lover complains about being parted from his beloved, stating that without her he would cease to exist.

Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Hall

Hajibeyov and his wife — Hajibeyov & His Wife

Uzeyir Hajibeyov (1885–1948)

Uzeyir bey Abdul Huseyn oglu Hajibeyov (September 18, 1885 – November 23, 1948) was an Azerbaijani and Soviet composer, conductor, publicist, playwright, teacher, translator, and social figure. He is recognized as the father of Azerbaijani composed classical music and opera, and was the first composer of an opera in the Islamic world.

Hajibeyov composed the music of the national anthem of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (re-adopted after Azerbaijan regained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991). He was awarded the title of People’s Artist of the USSR in 1938 — during the entire Soviet history, only three or four Azerbaijani musicians ever attained this level. He was also honored with the Order of Lenin and the Stalin Prize (won twice: 1941 for the opera Koroghlu, and 1946 for the 1945 film based on his opera Arshin Mal Alan).

Amongst his accomplishments are several operas based on folk fables including Ârshîn Mâl âlân and Kür-üghli, plus compositions based on the mystical verses of Nézâmî Gandjavî, the 12th century Persian poet and Sufi philosopher. Hajibeyov died at the age of 63 and was buried at the Alley of Honor in Baku.

Inside the Album Booklet

Uzeyir Hajibeyov’s desk as it is, kept untouched in the museum named after him.

A scene from the opera “Arshin Mal Alan”

From the Archives

Original release on Amazon, October 10, 1996 — Original release on Amazon · October 10, 1996

★ Released October 1, 1995 · ©&℗1995 X DOT 25 Music ★

Best of Zoroofchi

Traditional World • Item # CD 2002-2

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This is the first compact disk ever produced in "Azeri" language. This album is a collection of most popular old and new Azeri songs, performed by Yaghoub Zoroofchi accompanied by "The Azerbaijan's National Orchestra currently known as Azerbaijan State Orchestra of Folk Instruments" (traditional instruments). In this recording X DOT 25 Music tried hard to preserve the authenticity of the original works.

Artist(s): Yaghoub Zoroofchi & Azerbaijani's National Orchestra — Conducted by Nariman Ghanjehee

1. Salam Gater Misham 3:34
2. Azarbaijan 3:12
3. Heydar Baba 5:28
4. Vatan Ara 5:52
5. Yar Olmaz 5:54
6. San Aeeri 3:24
7. Sogoli Janan 2:49
8. San Seez 4:14
9. Az Shooghe Bahar 4:26
10. Olma Saa Olmaz 3:39
11. Chal Ashigh 8:09

Executive Producers: X DOT 25 Music

Performed in Baku by: Azerbaijan National Orchestra

Conducted by: Nariman Gandge-ei

Recorded at: 42nd Studio, North Hollywood

Setar: Kamel Alipour

Clarinet & Balaban: Albert

Recording & Mixing Engineer: Yousef Shahab at 42nd Studio North Hollywood

Cover Design: Koorosh Angali

Computer Graphics Support: Jayce Farahmand

From the Archives

Original Amazon release date, October 1, 1995 — Original Amazon release date · October 1, 1995

Baku Nights – Azerbaijan State Symphony Orchestra

★ Album · Item # CD 2006-2 ★

Baku Nights (Instrumental)

Azerbaijan State Symphony Orchestra · Symphonic / Classical / Instrumental

▶ Spotify ▶ Apple ▶ YouTube

An instrumental version of Arezoo — a symphonic recording of some of the most romantic and moving Azerbaijani classical pieces by composers such as Niyazi, Haji Bakeov, Fikrat Amirov and others. Performed by the 120-piece Azerbaijan State Symphony Orchestra, this recording features over one hour of a dramatic combination of western classical instrumentation with some of the most beautiful melodies of central Asia.

The melodies on this album were played by indigenous instruments of Azerbaijan — Tar, Duduk, Kamancheh and others. Mr. Zoroofchi personally selected the instrument and the instrument player for each song and produced these instrumental versions of songs he already sang, himself. A true masterpiece.

1. San Siz 4:09
2. Sogoli Janan 2:31
3. Nigar 2:54
4. Arezoo 6:11
5. Band Uldum 2:08
6. Ayriligh 5:53
7. Kur Arab 3:23
8. Dardmand 3:59
9. Mehraban 3:18
10. Qharanfil 2:34
11. Sandam Mane Yar Ulmaz 1:48
12. Gal Gal 1:53
13. Khumar Uldum 4:01

Total Time: 44:40

Conceived and Executed by: X DOT 25 Music

Executive Producers: X DOT 25 Music

Lead instruments recorded at: 42nd Studio, North Hollywood, under supervision of Mr. Zoroofchi

Recorded and Mixed by: Yousef Shahab

Re-Mixed by: Yaghoub Zoroofchi

Mastered by: X DOT 25 Music & Daniel Wyman

All literature on tracks and texts by: Koorosh Angali

Package Design & Computer support by: Koorosh Angali

Cover Art Design by: Max Ahmadi

Videos

Az Shooghe Bahar — Best of Zoroofchi

Chal Ashigh — a song with Ustad Kamel Alipour

Lyrics — Arezoo (Arzum)

Complete song lyrics in Azerbaijani · tap a song to read the full text

1. Arzum

Arezoo (Arzum) · Yaghoub Zoroofchi

Musiqi: Niyazi (Niyazi Hacıbəyov) · Söz: İslam Səfərli

Ala gözlüm, şirin sözlüm

Ağ yanaqlı gözəl yar

Ala gözlüm, şirin sözlüm

Ağ yanaqlı gözəl yar

2. Səndən Mənə Yar Olmaz

Arezoo (Arzum) · Yaghoub Zoroofchi

Musiqi və söz: Xalq mahnısı

Səndən mənə yar olmaz

Əhdə vəfadar olmaz

Min il bahar olarsa

Bülbülsüz güllər açmaz

3. Xumar Oldum

Arezoo (Arzum) · Yaghoub Zoroofchi

Musiqi və söz: Xalq mahnısı

Mən gəlmişəm sizə qonaq

Ceyran, mənə bax, bax

Bişir mənə sən qayğanaq

Maral, mənə bax, bax

4. Əsgərin Nəğməsi ("Arşın Mal Alan" Operettası)

Arezoo (Arzum) · Yaghoub Zoroofchi

Musiqi: Üzeyir Hacıbəyli · Söz: Üzeyir Hacıbəyli

Axtarıb tapdım səni

Səndəmi sevdin, yar, məni?

Gör nə haldır, gözüm görmür

5. Əsgərin Ariyası (Arşın Mal Alan Operettası)

Arezoo (Arzum) · Yaghoub Zoroofchi

Musiqi: Üzeyir Hacıbəyov · söz: Məhəmməd Füzuli)

Nalədəndir ney kimi avazeyi eşqim bülənd

Nalə tərkin qılmazam neytək kəsilsəm bənd-bənd

Qıl mədəd, ey bəxt, yoxsa kami-dil mümkün deyil

6. Əsgərin və Gülçöhrənin Dueti ("Arşın Mal Alan" Operettası)

Arezoo (Arzum) · Yaghoub Zoroofchi

Musiqi: Üzeyir Hacıbəyli · Söz: Üzeyir Hacıbəyli

Öyrənib pürfənd oldum

Özgəyə rişxənd oldum

Öyrənib pürfənd oldum

Özgəyə rişxənd oldum

7. Ayrılıq

Arezoo (Arzum) · Yaghoub Zoroofchi

Musiqi: Əli Səlimi · Söz: Fərhad İbrahimi

Fikrindən gecələr yata bilmirəm

Bu fikri başımdan ata bilmirəm

Fikrindən gecələr yata bilmirəm

Bu fikri başımdan ata bilmirəm

8. Nigarın Ariyası (Koroğlu Operası)

Arezoo (Arzum) · Yaghoub Zoroofchi

Musiqi və söz: Üzeyir Hacıbəyov

Sevdim səni mən, ey Nigarım

Rəna gözəlim, şən baharım

Sevdim səni, canan!

Lakin zülmükar xan

9. Kor Ərəbin Mahnısı

Arezoo (Arzum) · Yaghoub Zoroofchi

Musiqi: Fikrət Əmirov, söz: Hüseyn Cavid

Nə eşq olaydı, nə aşiq

Nə nazlı afət olaydı

Nə xəlq olaydı, nə xaliq

Nə eşqi-həsrət olaydı

10. Sevgili Canan

Arezoo (Arzum) · Yaghoub Zoroofchi

Musiqi: Üzeyir Hacıbəyli · Söz: Nizami Gəncəvi

Hüsnün gözəl ayətləri, ey sevgili canan!

Olmuş bütün aləmdə sənin şəninə şayan

Gəl eylə nəvaziş

Gəl eylə nəvaziş, mənə ver busə ləbindən

11. Mehr’ban – Çal, Oyna

Arezoo (Arzum) · Yaghoub Zoroofchi

Musiqi və söz: Xalq mahnısı

Dost bağında açılmış güllər

Sarılıb gülə sarı bülbüllər

Qızlar düzüb telinə güllər

12. Qərənfil

Arezoo (Arzum) · Yaghoub Zoroofchi

Musiqi: Vasif Adıgözəlov · Söz: Xurşudbanu Natavan

Səni kimdir sevən bica, qərənfil?

Sənə mən aşiqi-şeyda, qərənfil, qərənfil

Səni gülşən ara aşüftə gördüm

Yəqin bildim tutub sevda, qərənfil!

13. Sənsiz

Arezoo (Arzum) · Yaghoub Zoroofchi

Musiqi: Üzeyir Hacıbəyli · Söz: Nizami Gəncəvi

Hər gecəm oldu kədər, qüssə, fəlakət sənsiz

Hər nəfəs çəkdim, hədər getdi o saət sənsiz

Lyrics — Best of Zoroofchi

Complete song lyrics in Azerbaijani · tap a song to read the full text

1. Salam Gətirmişəm

Best of Zoroofchi · Yaghoub Zoroofchi

Musiqi: Əli Səlimi · söz: Valeh Mahmud Dəstpuş)

Sərin sulu bulaqlardan, bulaqlardan

Yaşıl yarpaq budaqlardan, budaqlardan

2. Ana Yurdum

Best of Zoroofchi · Yaghoub Zoroofchi

Musiqi: Xalq mahnısı · söz: Xalq mahnısı

Ana Yurdum (Varlığım Əzəldən)

Ana yurdum, sənə bağlıyam mən hər an

Məhəbbətin sönməz, heç çıxmaz başımdan

Sənə bağlı olub varlığım əzəldən

3. Heydər Baba

Best of Zoroofchi · Yaghoub Zoroofchi

Musiqi: Bəxtiyar Kərimov · söz: Məhəmmədhüseyn Şəhriyar

Heydərbaba, göylər bütün dumandı

Günlərimiz bir-birindən yamandı

Heydərbaba, göylər bütün dumandı

Günlərimiz bir-birindən yamandı

4. Vətən Ara Divar Olmaz

Best of Zoroofchi · Yaghoub Zoroofchi

Musiqi: Ələkbər Tağıyev · söz: Bəxtiyar Vahabzadə

Vətən ara, divar olmaz!

O tay olmaz, bu tay olmaz!

Dədə-baba qaydasıdır,

İstək olsa, “olmaz” olmaz!

5. Yar Olmaz

Best of Zoroofchi · Yaghoub Zoroofchi

Musiqi: Yaqub Zurufçu · söz: Hasan Majidzadeh Savan

Get, gülüm, get, deməsən, mən kimə yar olmaz?

Olsa da yaradanın, heç nə vəfadar olmaz.

6. Əziz Surət

Best of Zoroofchi · Yaghoub Zoroofchi

Musiqi: Tofiq Quliyev · söz: Zeynal Cabbarzadə

Hər yanda bax, gül açılıb

Gəl, gözəl pəri

Olmuş adın el içində

Dillər əzbəri...

7. Sevgili Canan

Best of Zoroofchi · Yaghoub Zoroofchi

Musiqi: Üzeyir Hacıbəyov · söz: Nizami Gəncəvi

Hüsnün gözəl ayətləri, ey sevgili canan!

Olmuş bütün aləmdə sənin şəninə şayan

Gəl eylə nəvaziş

Gəl eylə nəvaziş, mənə ver busə ləbindən

8. Sənsiz

Best of Zoroofchi · Yaghoub Zoroofchi

Musiqi: Üzeyir Hacıbəyov · söz: Nizami Gəncəvi

Hər gecəm oldu kədər, qüssə, fəlakət sənsiz

Hər nəfəs çəkdim, hədər getdi o saət sənsiz

Vay, Vay, Vay

9. Az Shooghe Bahar

Best of Zoroofchi · Yaghoub Zoroofchi

Musiqi: Xalq mahnısı · söz: Xalq mahnısı

از شوق بهار

از شوق بهار، بلبل پریش

بر زد چهچهی سوی یار خویش

گفتا عشوه مکن، یکدم غمزه مکن

10. Olmasa, Olmaz

Best of Zoroofchi · Yaghoub Zoroofchi

Musiqi: Tünzalə Ağayeva · söz: Süleyman Rüstəm

Bağlarda əsəndə payız yelləri, balam

Ağaclar saçını yolmasa, olmaz, balam

Cananı ürəkdən, candan sevənin, balam

Gözləri qan – yaşla dolmasa olmaz!

11. Çal, Aşıq

Best of Zoroofchi · Yaghoub Zoroofchi

Çal, aşıq, sazını, ürəyim dolub,

Çal, aşıq, sazını, ürəyim dolub.

Bəzən insan üçün məlhəm qoyolar,

Sazın nəğmələri,

History of These Productions

In Mid Nineties X DOT 25 Music entered into Recording Agreements with Mr. Zoroofchi and produced the 2 albums on this page. His Artist page here was established, per contract use of his name, in Mid Nineties. X DOT 25 Music produced both albums in 42nd Studio in North Hollywood, where Mr. Zoroofchi sang all the songs of these vocal albums and brought in another X DOT 25 Music Artist Mr. Kamel Alipour to play Persian Setar on Chal Ashigh. Mr. Zoroofchi was fully paid for his "work for hire" services.

These masters are owned, preserved and are in X DOT 25 Music Offices in USA. X DOT 25 Music fully owns all the rights of these albums as work for hire.

From the Archives

42nd Studio, North Hollywood — an oral history from the X DOT 25 Music production files

The vocals for these sessions were captured and mixed by Yousef Shahab, a legendary figure in Persian music engineering who had tracked the definitive records for Googoosh and Ebi in Iran before emigrating. The room was 42nd Studio in North Hollywood, then owned by Farhad Zamani, originally of Rasht.

Shahab engineered much of the early X DOT 25 catalog — Songs of the Enchanted for Parinaz, Moondance for Kamel Alipour, Bandidos De Amor for Yussi & Django, and, most celebrated of all, the critically acclaimed Beyond Denial by Axiom of Choice.

Midway through the primary repertoire, Zoroofchi asked whether he could cut a piece that had not been part of the orchestral material tracked in Baku — Chal Ashigh. It happened because another of the label’s artists was already in the building: the master Persian instrumentalist Kamel Alipour was at 42nd Studio working on recordings of his own, and being there and available was enough to make the session possible. Alipour had trained under the grand master Ali Akbar Shahnazi alongside his classmate Hossein Alizadeh. The story, as Alipour himself used to tell it, was that their Ustad always called on him to demonstrate pieces on the tar in front of the class — which, he would add with some relish, once famously annoyed the young Alizadeh.

No Persian tar could be found in the studio. Yaqub said he had an instrument in his car and went to fetch it — an Azerbaijani tar, smaller than its Persian counterpart and played against the chest. Alipour played a few notes, turned to him, and said:

“Man, your tar also has a torki accent.”

— torki is the word Iranians use for Azerbaijani — not the language of Türkiye.

Finding it too light to carry the weight of the song, Alipour went back to his own car for his Persian setar, and they cut the track — an unplanned fusion of Azerbaijani vocal opera and classical Persian improvisation. When Zoroofchi stepped out of the booth he had tears in his eyes:

“Wow, I hit the highest note I ever sang in my lifetime on this song.”

He had touched the absolute ceiling of his range, and it was preserved only because the session left room for spontaneity. Hear the recording ▶ — the setar behind him is Alipour’s.

Two rooms, two sounds. The catalogue carries both halves of that history. The orchestral material was tracked in Baku — sweeping, 120-piece, recorded at scale. The 42nd Studio sessions are the opposite: dry, close, immediate, an expatriate room in North Hollywood with the singer an arm’s length from the glass. The contrast between the Baku strings and that tears-in-the-booth vocal proximity is the character of these recordings, and the remasters were made to preserve it rather than polish it away.

The third album. Before the pandemic, the label and Zoroofchi were mapping out a third collaboration — a grand symphonic and visual tribute to his lifelong idol, Rashid Behbudov, built from the Azerbaijani classical and folk standards Behbudov had famously performed with full orchestral backing, with a dedicated series of music videos. Production halted when Zoroofchi contracted the virus in Baku. He died a couple of weeks later, in September 2021. The final text messages and calls remain in the label’s archives — a record of an unfinished masterpiece.