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VLAD WEST, known in Russia as Vladimir Sermakashev, is
a LEGEND of Russian Jazz. Born in Baku, he studied piano from age
3, composition from age 5. At that early age he was playing solo piano
concerts at Baku Conservatory and was taking composing and arranging lessons
with well known professors there. Mr. West has technique and knowledge of
classical and jazz music well beyond ordinary piano player. As
Mr. Starr (president of Oberlin College, Jazz Study) said about V. West in
one of his books on jazz "Red and Hot":
"In his combination of
grittiness and lyricism, blues feeling and sheer drive, he has few equals,
in Europe certainly and even in America." |
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Not fully satisfied only with classical music,
Vlad West started to learn about jazz at the age 9 and at 16 he was already
very well know jazz musician in Moscow. Articles about him were printed all
over Europe and America: VILLAGE VOICE, JAZZ FORUM, DOWN BEAT:
"His rhythmic sense is
simply unbelievable, and he is, I would say, swimming in rhythm." Mr. West and his quartet played extensively throughout the
European Jazz festival circuit. Among many others, he has played with Duke
Ellington and Gerry Mulligan, Ted Jones and Mel Lewis. He has recorded many
discs in Europe and a few in America, when he came to live in New York. On his jazz recording SAY HELLO TO RUSSIA Scott Yanow from JAZZ TIMES
said:
"West comes up with
creative and frequently hard-driving solos on six of his originals and three
standards, making one wonder why he is not better know." And Owen Cordle from DOWN BEAT MAGAZINE
gave
him three and a half
stars and
wrote:
"As a composer, he
demonstrates an affinity for the classic Coltrane quartet on FAR AWAY and
BLACK SNOW."
VLAD WEST was the inspiration,
musician,
story and music consultant for the movie MOSCOW ON THE HUDSON (Columbia Pictures). This is his first jazz CD as a piano player. |
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