When talking about genuine jazz-players in Russia, one of the first names that springs to mind is that of the Petersburg jazz musician
David Goloschokin - a multi-instrumentalist who most impressively plays the trumpet, the saxophone, the piano and the violin. As a violinist he has no equal in Russia, and
perhaps not only in Russia...
After graduating from the Leningrad Conservatory he became fascinated
by jazz and started playing first the double-bass, then the piano and then the
trumpet. He completely forgot about his first instrument, the violin, and did
not touch it for nearly 10 years. But in 1970, after hearing recordings by Stuff
Smith, David began to use the violin in his concerts, and so found great
success among his audiences.
In 1971 he met Duke Ellington, who was then touring Leningrad.
Goloschokin had Ellington in rapture over his performance and they both
play together for nearly an hour.
Together with his band (founded in 1968) he started to record at the
"Melody" record company, which has since released 15 of his albums.
Although he is often invited to Western jazz festivals the more impossibility of participating in them up till 1985, meant he was little known in the West.
Touring the USSR in 1987 Dave Brubeck invited Goloschokin to take part in one of his concerts as a violinist.
During Dizzy Gillespie's only concert in Moscow in 1991, David was highly praised by the master particularly for his violin performance.
Concert tours to Germany, Finland, Portugal, Sweden, Brazil, Norway and the USA followed.
After their performance at a jazz festival in Los Angeles in 1990 David
Goloschokin and his band were invited to the most popular American TV show, The Johnny Carson Shown, where his violin once again won him great admiration.
In 1989 David founded the State Jazz Philharmonic in St. Petersburg and
as its artistic director managed to concentrate all local jazz life around himself.
He always performs with his band here, where his violin concerts are particularly successful.
Nowaedays David Goloschokin is a frequent guest in Europe as well as the US.
During a performance with his band or as a guest-star from Russia he
amazes the audience with his multi-instrumentalism, yet whenever he plays the
violin according to critics proper continuation of a tradition along the lines
of Stephane Grappelli, Ray Nance, Stuff Smith.
However you now have the opportunity to convince yourself of this with
this CD, which has been recorded at prestigious Jazz Philharmonic Hall
of St. Petersburg.
German Vassinsky
St. Petersburg State Jazz Philharmonic Hall was founded in 1989 by the outstanding jazz musician and composer,
David Goloschokin - the Honoured Artist of Russia.
The creation of such a concert organization was become possible thanks to city authorities
A.P.Filippova and
V.I.Matvienko and the financial support of St. Petersburg businessmen
V.N.Lukyanchenko.
The opening of Jazz Philharmonic Hall in St. Petersburg was become quite an event in the jazz history. Since the first days of its existence Jazz Philharmonic Hall has been finansed by the State which is an unprecedented thing in the world jazz practice. And the same time it was not surprising that Jazz Philharmonic Hall was established in our city. Here the first jazz bands were organized in the 20's.
By the end of the 80's the city jazz was concentrated mostly around the best known in Russia orchestras -
Leningrad Dixieland and
David Goloschokin Band. They became the nucleus of Jazz Philharmonic with
David Goloschokin as the Director.
He is living legend of Russian jazz, a musician who has received recognition of the whole jazz world. He is well known in New York, Paris, London and Rio de Janeiro. During his 40 years jazz career he played with such jazz giants as
Duke Ellington,
Dizzy Gillespie,
Dave Brubeck,
Benny Golson,
Joe Pass,
Billy Taylor and many other jazz celebrites. Being versatile musician (you can name him an orchestra-man), he plays the violin, flugelhorn, tenor-saxaphone, vibraphone and a lot of other instruments perfectly well. His performances and his recordings are a unique phenomenon of the jazz world.
JAZZ PHILHARMONIC HALL
Concerts of the best Russian and foreign musicans from Wednesday to Sunday. Special jazz-balls. The hall fits up to 200 people. Comfortable tables for 2 to 6 persons. All kinds of beverages, light snacks and desert served during the concerts. Concerts begin at 7 p.m. Phone 164-85-65, 050. Fax 164-98-43.
ELLINGTON HALL
Jazz bar with the traditional St. Petersburg style. Refined cuisine and wide choice of beverages. Star perfomances in acoustic jazz programmes Tuesday, Friday & Saturday. Fits as much as 40 people. Receptions up to 50 places is reserved in advance. Opens at 8 p.m. Phone 164-85-65, 050. Fax 164-99-15.
