The walls of the Lipetsk College of Arts were filled with jazz motifs from the very morning. Singer and Laureate of international and all-Russian competitions Karina Kozhevnikova conducted a vocal master class for festival participants. She taught me how to improvise by playing notes, because jazz loves that very much.
“It is not necessary to sing a scat, that is, it is not necessary to imitate the instrumental syllables (hums the melody), but you can change the theme itself, the melody of the song. Rhythmically, melodically, work with it, improvise. That is, create your own version of the theme. Do you understand? The big difference between jazz and academic music is precisely this. Improvisation!” explains singer, member of the jury of the festival-competition “JAZZ-48” Karina Kozhevnikova.
More than a hundred people from eight regions of Russia took part in the competitive auditions. The best were chosen in four categories. These include “vocal ensemble” and “orchestra”. In the latter, the winner was the team from Tula. Other regions that also managed to distinguish themselves were noted by the chairman of the jury from Moscow, Pavel Ovchinnikov.
“Stavropol really stood out. These are really high-quality ensembles, very good. Lipetsk made me very happy, well done. “Wonderful vocal ensembles, the level is very good,” Pavel Ovchinnikov, first deputy director of the Moscow Jazz Academy, told Lipetsk Time.
Lipetsk jazz groups took prizes in all categories at once. Guitarist and drummer of the ensemble of the regional college of arts, Ivan Khryukin, admits: he rehearsed with his classmates every day. And they became laureates.
“We thought that we would not take a prize, since we watched the rehearsals of Moscow orchestras and orchestras from Tula, and they had a very strong level. But we probably prepared very well, so everything worked out. Yes, we didn’t expect it and were delighted,” says Ivan Khryukin, guitarist and drummer of the Lipetsk ensemble led by Dmitry Kokshin.
In recent years, jazz has thoroughly entered the cultural life of Lipetsk. This is both a festival on Green Island and a student competition, which is becoming increasingly popular.
“I really want to come to the next festival. I really liked it here: both the master classes and the performances. Lots of new acquaintances. I will be glad to come next time,” Igor Kononenko, drummer of the Moscow ensemble led by Alexei Bausin, shares his impressions.
Saxophones and electric guitars played their finest hour. The three-day jazz festival has ended. The young musicians, who captured the ears and hearts of the jury members, scattered throughout Russia. But they promised to return next year.
