HotLog

   Presentation of new label “Butman Music”

The presentation of Igor Butman’s recording label “Butman Music” took place on June 4, 2009 at Svetlanovsky (Big) Hall of Moscow International Performing Arts Center. Mr. Butman introduced the very first two releases of his label: “Moscow @ 3 am” by Igor Butman Big Band presenting music of a great Russian composer Nick Levinovsky and “The Shadow Of Your Smile” by Igor Butman Big Band’s soloist, trumpeter Vadim Eilenkrig , a modern jazz album recorded with the members of the legendary The Brecker Brothers – trumpeter Randy Brecker, bassist Will Lee, guitarist Hiram Bullock, drummer Chris Parker, and the musical director of George Benson, keyboardist David Garfield. The presentation featured live sets of Igor Butman Big Band and Vadim Eilenkrig Quintet (Russia–USA) with very special guests: Nick Levinovsky (piano, keyboards), Victor Bailey (bass guitar), Matt Stevens (guitar) and Rodney Holmes (drums). Igor Butman and American stars also performed at a club presentation of Vadim Eilenkrig’s album at Igor Butman Club on June 3.


Nick Levinovsky and Igor Butman Big Band


Vadim Eilenkrig
Victor Bailey
Matt Stevens
Rodney Holmes


   Musical comedy “Stilyagi” was called the best film of 2008

On April 3, 2009 the musical comedy “Stilyagi” (“Hipsters”) by Valery Todorovsky was called the best film of 2008 and was awarded Russia’s main national film prize “Nika”. We would remind you that Igor recorded all saxophone solos for the soundtrack to “Stilyagi”! “It’s not the first time I’ve worked in cinematograph. I’ve recorded OSTs to “Bremenskie Musikanty” (“Bremen Town Musicians” and “Landysh Serebristy” (“Silvery lily of the valley”). A great orchestra had been casted for this very recording, everybody at the studio had a splendid mood, and the producer Leonid Yarmolnik and I immediately established a close rapport. Finally, the recording was made very quickly and very skillfully. I delighted in playing songs from the 80s wonderfully arranged by Konstantin Meladze,” - Igor says.


   Igor Butman is on the cover of “Russia Now”

Igor Butman is on the cover of “Russia Now” - a supplement to The Washington Post and Daily Telegraph.
The text of the publication is available at Press page!




   Triumph of Jazz-2009

The main concert of the 9th annual international festival “Triumph of Jazz” went with a bang at Svetlanovsky Hall of Moscow International Performing Arts Centre on February 7th, 2009. The festival produced by Igor Butman featured a legendary pianist Ahmad Jamal (USA) and a modern jazz star Christian Scott (USA) with their first concerts in Russia! The line up of the “Triumph” also included an outstanding St Petersburg-based pianist Andrey Kondakov with Brazil All Stars (USA) band and Igor Butman Big Band. As all tickets to MIPAC had already been sold out by the end of January, two additional concerts of the festival’s participants took place at Igor Butman Club. This time “Triumph of Jazz’ pushed its creative boundaries: a jazz photo exhibition of the same name by a famous photographer Alexander Zabrin was held in Moscow Museum of Modern Artþ

Photos of the participants are available at Triumph of Jazz page


   In 2009 Igor Butman Big Band will celebrate its 10th anniversary!

In 2009 Igor Butman Big Band will celebrate its 10th anniversary! Thereby we have scheduled several events, including a concert at Spaso House, the Residence of US Embassador to Russia, starring Igor Butman Big Band and Christian Scott Quintet on February 10, 2009. The performance will take within the framework of celebration of the 20-th anniversary of International Cultural Center named after S. Mihoels. It was IBBB's debut when they appeared on the stage of "Olympiyski" sport complex at International festival named after S.Mihoels in April 1999.


   New album of Igor Butman "Magic Land" is available at www.amazon.com!

In December 2007 Sony Classical released Igor Butman’s CD “Magic Land” feat. Chick Corea (piano), John Patitucci (double bass) and Jack DeJohnette (drums).
“In late November of 2005 I received a call from Igor Butman from Moscow, asking if I would produce and play on a recording for him in January 2006 in New York.
After listening to Igor’s playing I was happy to participate in the project which was around the music of well known Russian cartoons.
Making the project even more exciting was the addition of some of the most incredible musicians around, Chick Corea, John Patitucci, Randy Brecker and Stefon Harris who all contributed to the music on the highest level and I am really grateful to them all.
To help us get into the mood we all watched the original versions of the cartoons supplied by Igor’s wife Oksana and it helped a lot.
I love Igor’s warm, robust tenor and his lush, full-bodied sound on soprano. He knows how to swing hard and how to leave space, but most importantly he knows how to play a beautiful ballad.
I really had fun and enjoyed doing this project, as well as playing with such great musicians the melodies themselves were very appealing and stay with you for a long time.
Thank you to all of those involved including the great engineer James Farber.”
Jack DeJohnette