Igor Butman and Moscow State Jazz Orchestra
23.04.2014 Hamburg
24.04.2014 Berlin
25.04.2014 Düsseldorf
26.04.2014 Offenbach
27.04.2014 Baden-Baden
28.04.2014 Stuttgart
29.04.2014 Nürnberg
INSPIRING JAZZ SAXOPHONIST IGOR BUTMAN.
The Annual Third International Festival Art-Assemblies. The Days of Russian Culture of Germany will include the Igor Butman Moscow State Jazz Orchestra. The world-renowned jazz saxophonist Igor Butman is today regarded as the premier jazz maestro in Russia. His inimitable, energetic and virtuoso style has earned him countless fans around the world. Among them is former U.S. President Bill Clinton who described Igor Butman ‘the best saxophonist of modern times’.
During the mid 1980s, Igor Butman started performing with various celebrated Soviet jazz bands. These included Big Band of the Oleg Lundstrem and jazz group ‘Allegro’. As a consequence his reputation spread and he was invited to tour throughout the Soviet Union. Soon recognised as the premier saxophonist in critics polls the gifted musician was to record several albums for the label ‘Melodiya’.
After emigrating to the United States in 1987, Igor Butman entered Berklee College of Music. By the time the already famous Russian saxophonist arrived in the United States he had earned the respect of the most esteemed American jazzmen. In 1998, the outstanding trumpeter Wynton Marsalis invited Butman to perform as a special guest soloist with the Lincoln Centre Jazz Orchestra. Soon they were touring Russia together.
Such was Butman’s reputation that he was accepted by such legends as Dave Brubeck, Chick Corea, Pat Metheny, Gary Burton, Louis Bellson and Grover Washington.
Today the world famous Berklee graduate directs the Moscow Jazz Orchestra also known as the Igor Butman Jazz Orchestra. The Big Band regularly tours the United States and performs at major jazz festivals throughout Europe and Asia.
During 2013 the Igor Butman Jazz Orchestra, in the prestigious magazine ‘Downbeat’ was portrayed as a ‘Constellation of Virtuosos’. It performed twice whilst on tour in the United States. It took part in Umbria Jazz Festival and Jazz à Juan and Wigan Jazz Festival.
During the Umbria Jazz Festival, ‘Downbeat’ magazine described Igor Butman Orchestra as one of the three best jazz bands of all time. The Big Band of Igor Butman played a 90-minute set. This demonstrated their mastery of the language of the modern jazz orchestra. It also confirmed their inheritance of the ‘Post-bop’ style Dizzy Gillespie Big Band traditions.
The orchestra performed compositions and instrumental ballads with breathtaking precision and unbeatable panache. One was reminded of the Count Basie Orchestra’s most acclaimed album ‘The Atomic Mr. Basie’ as a bold and powerful approach, ‘We will crush you’, which was typically Buddy Rich Orchestra in its heyday.
Internationally famous jazzmen were delighted and honoured to perform with Big Band Igor Butman. Among them were Dee Dee Bridgewater, vocal quartet ‘New York Voices’, Kevin Mahogany, George Benson, Gino Vannelli, Wynton Marsalis, Larry Coryell, Billy Cobham, Bill Evans, Randy Brecker, Joe Lovano, Gary Burton, and Toots Thielemans.
Igor Butman pushes the boundaries of jazz and mainstream crossover. A challenging virtuoso, he loves to create projects and to move towards creative experimentation. Examples of this are his musical performances with Mikhail Kozakov based on poems composed by Joseph Brodsky, crossover projects with Orchestra Moscow Virtuosi, Yuri Bashmet and his chamber ensemble, Soloists of Moscow as well as regular jazz concert tours with pop-jazz star Larisa Dolina.
Igor Butman, an innovative and traditionalist supremo is a legend and a true ambassador of jazz music. He has further popularised jazz culture bringing the art form many new adherents. He has proved that there is a place for jazz on the biggest of world stages. At such events, prolonged applause, calls of ‘Bravo!’ and repeated encores accompany his performances.
Moscow Jazz Orchestra, under the direction of Igor Butman for the second year, is to participate in the festival The Days of Russian Culture. The Press and public find it difficult to forget that when these gifted musicians were let loose in the Kurhaus irresistible energy radiated from the stage.
April 23 to 27, 2014. Igor Butman and the celebrated Moscow State Jazz Orchestra will present to an international audience in Baden-Baden. At its Kurhaus and at diverse German cities can be experienced and enjoyed the masterpieces of jazz and many original compositions.
The Moscow Jazz Orchestra tour has a demanding program of unique entertainment. During this exclusive tour the seven cities to be visited are Baden-Baden (Kurhaus), Berlin (Rathaus Reinickendorf), Düsseldorf (Museum Kunstpalast), Hamburg (Friedrich-Ebert-Halle), Nuremberg (Meistersingerhalle), Offenbach (Capitol) and Stuttgart (Liederhalle).