Trombonist Anatoly Tchimiris is the band's "peace-breaker". It is the typical Petersburg tradition started by Edward Lewin. Each performance often consists of two stages, a proper, noble one is followed by Tchimiris's solo, which begins the second stage. Breaking the @peace" of first one. But that's jazz. Some time ago the banjo was considered the major symbol of jazz. Presently, few are interested in this unique and extravagant instrument. However, ask any connoisseur of the banjo and they will agree, that Boris Erahov is one of the very best. The band's drummer, Alexander Skrypnik has been the only vocalist of the band in the past thirty years. According to the popular legend, Louis Armstrong hass passed on his voice to Alexander in a dream, but now he has to share the vocal performances with another band member. Onbe of the uncrowned kings in St.-petersburg jazz, Vladislav Pankevich has recently joined Leningrad Dixieland as a pianist. Thus added another microphone to the band, since "nobody here can sing classical jazz better then Pankevich", as a "melody" magazine critic once described him. Pankevich is also a talented artist. He works on the design of classical and jazz records at the "Melody" recording company. Leningrad Dixieland participated in the first jazz fextivals during the late 1950s and early 1960s. At that time these festivals were only held in Estonia and jazz lovers from all over gathered in Tallinn and Tartu to listen to their favourite musicians. In 1968, Leningrad Dixieland became the first band to go abroad, visiting Hungary and Bulgaria. Their first international success at the famous Jazz-Jamboree in Warsaw, the Leipzig Fair, and the Jazz Festival in Prague and rheir performance on Magdeburg television made them popular throughout Europe. Numerous tours followed, exclusively in the socialistic countries of that time period. Only with Gorbachev "perestroika" did the band break through to the West. They appeared on the internationally know "Tontle Show" with Johnny Carson, and followed with the British tour arranged by the Her Majesty's foreign minister. All of this is combined with great festivals somewhere in Vladivostok, inevitable cancelled flights at Pulkovo airport, and numerous adventures during the stopovers. These jazz veterans are amazing. They are always prepared to race off somewhere to play, rehearse and have fun. They are full of energy and have attracted the younger generations as well. Trumpeter Yuli Sour and bass player Vladimir Kudryavtsev have proved themselves as qualified to play with their "jazz grandparents". It is said that theatres live for a decade and die. Jazz is different. The names change, rhythms continue. Let other find their shining star, as we have found ours! Alexey Batashev |