Ilugdin Trio - Live Sketches (2022) [Hi-Res]

The strength of pianist Dmitry Ilugdin and his collaborators lies in the fact that each of their albums feels like a unique chapter in their journey—neither a sequel nor a prequel. You can begin exploring Ilugdin’s music with his latest release, *Live Sketches*, his previous album *My Story*, or even the trio’s debut, *Nikitsky Boulevard*; in any case, the style to which this ensemble is dedicated remains clear. Yet, it is only later—when looking at their broader discography—that the listener truly grasps the deepening complexity and the growing musical candor that becomes increasingly bold with every new record. In technical terms, *Live Sketches* can be described as a piano trio—featuring Dmitry Ilugdin on piano, Viktor Shestak on double bass, and Pyotr Ivshin on drums—that blends European jazz with the Russian classical tradition. All three are leading figures on the contemporary Russian jazz scene. While such a description helps one quickly grasp the essence, true perfection cannot be captured in words; it must be heard.