Sergei Golovnya

Tula Big Band: Chemistry is more important than individual soloists

The Tula Philharmonic Big Band directed by Sergei Golovnya — a renowned Moscow jazz saxophonist with extensive experience playing in different configurations — was formed on March 10, 2016.

It's no surprise that the Tula Philharmonic took this step — since the 1960s, Tula has been a jazz center. Master of Russian jazz Anatoly Kroll began his career there. Honored Artist of Russia, composer, arranger and conductor of the Tula Big Band Igor Kantyukov also began his jazz career in Tula.

The band, which will open the festival, includes the best Russian musicians: trumpeters Viktor Arzu Guseinov, Roman Ivanov, Mikhail Brucheyev, Vitaly Anisimov, trombonists Alexei Sekatsky, Sergei Gimazetdinov, Andrei Lavrinenko, bass trombonist Maxim Tarasov, saxophonists Roman Sokolov, Pavel Skornyakov, Anton Zaletayev, Viktor Podkorytov, drummer Alexander Zinger, pianist Oleg Starikov, and contrabassist Vladimir Koltsov-Krutiv — the man who keeps an iron rhythm with a phenomenal sense of swing.

According to the musicians, the Big Band brings together people of different generations — both young people aged 25-30 and jazz veterans. The succession of generations is one of the main values of the band. Thought there are many great musicians in the band, the chemistry among them is sometimes more important than the individual soloists.

Their special set list at the festival will be devoted to legends of Russian jazz. 2016 marks the 100th birth anniversary of Oleg Lundstrem, and one of the founders of Russian jazz, German Lukyanov will turn 80 during the festival. Conductor of the band Igor Kantyukov recently celebrated his 70th birthday. In addition, the band will honor recently deceased Andrei Eshpai and his music, and arrangements of his songs by Oleg Lundstrem and Vitaly Dolgov.