One fine day in 1921, Russian dancer, poet and performer Valentin Parnakh was in Paris, France when he first heard jazz music. Immediately beguiled, he decided to bring it back to his native Russia, and started planning the first-ever jazz concert performed by Russian artists.
Traveling from Paris to Moscow via Berlin, where he acquired the instruments required for this historic performance, he finally presented his brand new group on October 1, 1922, at the Theatre Institute.
Ever since, the largest country in the world has embraced the genre, and Moscow, in turn, embraced its identity as the birthplace of Russian jazz, with dozens of venues showcasing local, national and international artists on a daily basis. It is only logical that the city is the epicenter of celebrations as Russian jazz turns 100 years old this year.
Internationally renowned saxophonist Igor Butman incorporated Golden Sun Ray into his repertoire long ago; a children’s song from a Soviet cartoon, yet arguably one of the first Russian jazz standards of its time. He presents an extensive program of events this year in honor of this unique event in cultural history. With Butman at the helm, Moscow is the decor for the return of the legendary Moscow Jazz Festival in June and a complete reconstruction of the first-ever jazz concert at the time and place where it happened, on October 1, exactly 100 years since that memorable afternoon at 1pm in 1922. That evening, Butman presents an extensive jazz birthday gala at the famous historical Bolshoi Theater, featuring a range of groups including decorated members of the (inter)national scene as well as a number of rising stars. Finally, in November, the national powerhouse of jazz presents the brand new Russian Jazz Awards, honoring those who made the Russian jazz scene into what it is today.
While historically, the path of Russian jazz has sometimes not been as steady as it is now, its 100th birthday proves its relevance on the (inter)national music scene. Join us in celebrating jazz history in 2022, the Year of Russian Jazz!
Traveling from Paris to Moscow via Berlin, where he acquired the instruments required for this historic performance, he finally presented his brand new group on October 1, 1922, at the Theatre Institute.
Ever since, the largest country in the world has embraced the genre, and Moscow, in turn, embraced its identity as the birthplace of Russian jazz, with dozens of venues showcasing local, national and international artists on a daily basis. It is only logical that the city is the epicenter of celebrations as Russian jazz turns 100 years old this year.
Internationally renowned saxophonist Igor Butman incorporated Golden Sun Ray into his repertoire long ago; a children’s song from a Soviet cartoon, yet arguably one of the first Russian jazz standards of its time. He presents an extensive program of events this year in honor of this unique event in cultural history. With Butman at the helm, Moscow is the decor for the return of the legendary Moscow Jazz Festival in June and a complete reconstruction of the first-ever jazz concert at the time and place where it happened, on October 1, exactly 100 years since that memorable afternoon at 1pm in 1922. That evening, Butman presents an extensive jazz birthday gala at the famous historical Bolshoi Theater, featuring a range of groups including decorated members of the (inter)national scene as well as a number of rising stars. Finally, in November, the national powerhouse of jazz presents the brand new Russian Jazz Awards, honoring those who made the Russian jazz scene into what it is today.
While historically, the path of Russian jazz has sometimes not been as steady as it is now, its 100th birthday proves its relevance on the (inter)national music scene. Join us in celebrating jazz history in 2022, the Year of Russian Jazz!
For more information contact That Jazz Girl.
