At a time of great political and social uncertainty, the dynamic post-cold
war partnership of the Russian Federation's Oleg Kireyev (tenor saxophone) and
U.S.’s Keith Javors (piano) continues to inspire jazz audiences around the
globe. The co-leaders recently welcomed jazz trumpet luminary Tom Harrell, the
heralded bassist Ben Williams (Pat Metheny), and the creative drummer E.J.
Strickland (Ravi Coltrane) to the studio for their dynamic upcoming release,
entitled The Meeting, available on May 31, 2016. (iTunes and Google Play
preorder begins May 3.) The new record bridges the influences of two
continents, featuring new original compositions by Kireyev and Javors,
interspersed with standard material. The deluxe physical-only version of the
album includes two additional alternate tracks and liner notes by Howard
Mandel.
A chance
internet meeting would evolve into something spectacular. Kireyev and Javors'
association began in 2007 when Kireyev's manager reached out to Javors through
the Internet with the possibility of a gig at the Union of Composers Club in
Russia, where Kireyev is Artistic Director. An instant chemistry was noticed
and a friendship forged, one that would inevitably result in numerous American
and European Tours. In addition to performances at numerous world class clubs
such as Smalls, the Iridium, Blues Alley, Chris' Jazz Cafe, and many others,
Kireyev and Javors were together featured at the prestigious International
House of Music in Moscow, one of the premiere concert venues in Europe.
Their
flourishing partnership was first sonically documented on the April 13, 2010
release of Rhyme & Reason, featuring Oleg Kireyev & Keith Javors
alongside bassist Boris Kozlov and drummer E.J. Strickland. The record received
much critical acclaim from major music writers and charted on the JazzWeek
World charts for several consecutive weeks. The tandem’s new effort follows up
on its success with a set that is as equally if not more captivating and
creative, with model support from Harrell, Williams, and Strickland.
Now on the
advent of their this, their sophomore project together, Oleg Kireyev &
Keith Javors know, now more than ever, the significance of that chance internet
meeting, and it shows in the faces of enthusiastic and involved audience
members. While each day performing together is a meeting of sorts, Kireyev and
Javors now see it as a blessing. Privileged now to draw from the deep talents
of an All-Star NYC rhythm section and a lauded trumpet icon, the tandem
continue to push the jazz envelope and promote unity wherever they play.
Oleg Kireyev
is an internationally-recognized musician, touring frequently and playing to
appreciative audiences in Europe and the U.S. Having undertaken many innovative
and provocative international jazz projects in a performing career spanning
three decades, The Express and Star says Kireyev is “a Russian sax player with
a reputation for hard swing and high excitement”. “Incredibly good”, “Soft and
enthusiastic” and “Stylish and top-notch” are all phrases music critics have
written about his voice on saxophone. He has performed at the London Jazz
Festival, the New York Jazz Improv Festival, and the Montreux Jazz Festival, to
name a few. Legendary musician Bud Shank says: "Oleg's playing is a
marvelous combination of styles, incorporating a whole lot of players. I hear
echoes of the 1920’s and John Coltrane combined with unstructured jazz."
Keith Javors
is an iconoclastic figure on today’s international music scene, rare in his
accomplishments as dually a producer and artist as well as an award-winning
educator. Known for his “technical virtuosity, a riveting compositional style,
and constant creativity” (AllAboutJazz), Javors is a true musicians’ musician,
possessive of extraordinary versatility and a riveting ballad style. His
performance credits include eight albums as a leader and appearances at venues
such as the Montreux Jazz Festival, Chicago Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz
Festival, and numerous others. As Bill Milkowski writes in Jazz Times, “Javors
distinguishes himself as a bandleader intent on collective envelope-pushing.”
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