Kapustin, Nikolai - Saxophone Chamber Music - Blumina, Elisaveta

At first glance, it may seem surprising that a pianist born in the Soviet Union, who studied at a classical Russian piano school, would compose exclusively in the jazz style. But jazz was more common in the Soviet Union than one might think. As early as the 1930s, Oleg Ludstrem began performing with his Big Band in the Soviet Union. Later, Nikolai Kapustin worked for several years in this orchestra as a pianist and arranger. "I am most interested in the fusion of classical music and jazz, as well as classical form and jazz idiom. For me, the classical part carries more weight. The jazz style is just color." (Nikolai Kapustin).