Igor Butman and Igor Raykhelson: Modern Romance

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Following up on the February's 2006 sold out Lincoln Center performance in the same theme of Cross-Over performances, Russia's Jazz Ambassador, saxophonist Igor Butman (see photo) and Neo-Romantic composer Igor Raykhelson headline Jazz to Classical Concerts entitled Modern Romance at the Edward M. Pickman Concert Hall at the Longy School of Music, Cambridge, Mass., April 6th & at Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall, NY City, April 7th. Emphasizing the connections and contrast between Jazz and Classical Music, the evening will consist of original compositions of Raykhelson & Butman and other familiar works by composers such as Monk, Gershwin and Handel.

'The concerts will take the audience along with the musicians as they musically explore the contrasts and blends between the two genres of music and the artist's musical answers to each medium and each other, ' says composer/pianist Igor Raykhelson. Raykhelson continues 'Each unique performance will be in an intimate, well known Concert Hall showcasing the rising medium of Cross-Over Performances to the public for the greatest enjoyment.'

Igor Butman, Russia's Jazz Ambassador, prompted President Bill Clinton to write in his biography -- 'Butman is my favorite living tenor saxophonist' following his performance of Nostalgie at a Kremlin state dinner. Well known internationally, Butman is a forcefully charismatic soloist (NY times, Feb.2006). Butman opened the 2003-2004 Jazz at Lincoln Center season with Wynton Marsalis. He has performed and recorded with top Jazz musicians including Dave Brubeck, Chick Corea, Jack DeJohnette, Pat Metheny, Walter Davis, Jr., Eddie Gomez and Grover Washington, Jr.

Igor Raykhelson, born in St. Petersburg is a leading composer of the contemporary Neo Romantic Movement. In 2003 his Adagio for Viola and Strings, performed by Yuri Bashmet and the Moscow Soloist Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, was received with rave reviews. Raykhelson combined his love of Jazz and Classical music in his expressive composition Jazz Suite, (2005) performed at Lincoln Center 2006 by Yuri Bashmet, viola and conducting the Moscow Soloist Orchestra along with Igor Butman leading his Big Band Jazz Orchestra.

Following his debut of Small Symphony for Strings at the Bahamas Music Festival in 2006, a review compared Raykhelson's strength in melodic composition to that of Tchaikovsky. Raykhelson performs internationally and is featured as a guest composer at international festivals. He has also performed with such Jazz greats as Eddie Gomez and Joe Lock.

Joining Butman and Raykhelson for Modern Romance Concerts both in the United States and Russia are Elena Revich, violin, Boris Andrianov, cello and Julian Milkis, clarinet.

Julian Milkis, clarinet, is hailed as the world's greatest living Clarinetist. Milkis has established international stature as a soloist and chamber musician. He was the only pupil of the late, great Benny Goodman. He is currently a Yamaha sponsored musician performing at such Halls as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Salle in Paris, with the Hamburg Philharmonic, Moscow Conservatory and in the Great Hall of St. Petersburg amongst a few.

Boris Andrianov, cello, is considered one of the most gifted musicians of his generation in Russia. He was the first cellist to become a laureate at the VI International Rostropovich Competition in Paris 1995 and was selected as a New Names Artist touring internationally. In 2003 he became the laureate of the first Isang Yun Cello Competition (Korea). Andrianov plays a Montagnana Cello from the Russian State Collection.

Elena Revich, violin, graduated from the National Tchaikovsky Conservatory with high honors. Revich has performed as a solo artist in major Festivals such as Elba and Stressa in Italy and the Oleg Kagen Music Fest. Revich served as Concert Master for the Moscow Soloist Orchestra from 1999-2002 under the leadership of Yuri Bashmet. She was awarded the title of Honored Artist of Russia in 2004.

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