Andrei Kondakov - Blues for 4 (2011)

Tracklist

01. Love and Hope
02. Robot's Blues
03. Sundial
04. Another Question
05. Lights of the Foggy Highway
06. Life for Two
07. Well, Where is the Airport?
08. Blues for Four

Butman Music Records releases a real rarity - the album "Blues for 4" recorded in 1997 by the legendary project of the same name consisting of pianist Andrey Kondakov, saxophonist Igor Butman, double bassist Eddie Gomez and drummer Lenny White.

The "Blues for 4" project was formed in New York in December 1996 on the initiative of St. Petersburg jazz pianist and composer Andrey Kondakov. The creation of the "Blues for 4" project was preceded by joint performances of Igor Butman and Eddie Gomez at the New York-Rio-Moscow jazz festival, which were a great success in 1993, in the Column Hall of the House of Unions in Moscow, as well as joint work on the recording of Igor Butman's album "Falling Out", which was released in the USA in 1994. Eddie Gomez and Lenny White have long-standing collaborations with the outstanding pianist and composer Chick Corea, as well as joint performances in different groups in the USA.
The album "Blues for 4" includes 8 compositions by Andrey Kondakov. The recording took place in Tiki Studio (Long Island).
According to the famous Russian jazz critic Arkady Petrov: "+ it is difficult to define the style that all these four come up with. Probably, it is a cocktail of all conceivable directions and schools of jazz, although the "golden mean" prevails - bebop. Only not the old style of the 40s, but a new one, enriched with modern achievements in harmony, polyphony, rhythm + This music is formally "listed" in the jazz department. But in terms of the depth of emotions, experiences, colors, ingenuity - how does all this differ from the classics? Absolutely nothing. Both are Great Music." Another album of this quartet "Jazz 4x4" was recorded at the studio "Mosfilm" and released by the studio "Soyuz". Over the following years, fate repeatedly brought the project participants together in various interactions. If Igor Butman often crossed paths with Eddie Gomez, including during the recording of his last album in New York, then Andrey Kondakov actively collaborated with Lenny White (performances and recordings in New York).
One should not think that "Blues for 4" is a purely studio project. The quartet often tours Russia and the USA. In 2005, the musicians toured Russia, the next tour in 2006 started at the club "Birdland". In 2007, "Blues for 4" played a series of concerts Dizzy's Club Coca Cola. The album presentation will take place on February 19 on the stage of the Svetlanovsky Hall of the Moscow International House of Music and on February 21 at the Igor Butman Club as part of the Triumph of Jazz 2011 festival.

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