The jazz acts appearing at the inaugural event in April 2005 included the Joe Zawinul Syndicate, Germany's Christoph Busse Trio and Russia's Yakov Okun Quarter, in a 14 day event that laid tribute to such Azerbaijani jazz predecessors as Rafig Babayev and his Gaya quartet as well as jazz pianist and composer Vagif Mustafa Zadeh.
Composition of American jazz pianist Bill Evans was also included in his graduation examination program besides classic music.