One of the few internationally recognized Finnish jazz musicians, clarinet and saxophone player, arranger and composer Antti Sarpila will perform today at the Koktebel Jazz Party with Georgy Garanyan's Big Band from Russia's Krasnodar.
Answering journalists' questions at the morning news conference, the musicians said that their performance will pay homage to swing king Benny Goodman, but indicated that other music will be performed as well. In particular, Antti Sarpila promised Benny Goodman's classics, as well as other pieces, such as Tchaikovsky's composition from the Sleeping Beauty.
According to Sarpila, their concert program is an attempt to introduce jazz classics to different age groups. US audiences are older, he said, while those in Europe are clearly younger. Sarpila, who has performed in Moscow, Kazan, St Petersburg and Kazan, said that Russia stands out as jazz concerts are attended by people of all ages.
The jazzman said he is very pleased with the way the festival has been organized promising to come back to Koktebel with the Antti Sarpila Swing Band.
Ilya Filippov from Georgy Garanyan's Big Band said they enjoy every opportunity to take part in such international events with guest performers. "We are always pleased to perform with musicians like Antti, because he comes as close as possible in his music to the classical swing of Benny Goodman. We brought this particular program to the festival specifically because it's classical jazz," he said.