Oleg Kireyev

Bio:

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"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 the unstructured jazz". Bud Shank, musician , USA

What's cool (to me, at least) about the result is how unabashed the band is in swinging genuinely hard on chestnut exotica like Puerto Rican-born Ellington trombonist Juan Tizol's "Caravan," which Kireyev turned to as an encore, and seems born to blow, dervish-like. Howard Mandel, president of the Jazz Journalists Association, USA

"A Russian sax player with a reputation for hard swing and high excitement..." The Express Star, GBR.

"The musician performing looked like a priest of a strange music patronizing God. Through all the night his eyes were shining with that fire of a man who totally devoted himself to the deed beloved". OpenMusic magazine, Russia.

"The tenor saxophonist from Ufa in the Urals is establishing a reputation as an entertaining and skilled musician... Revolutionary Russian reedman Oleg Kireyev..." The Evening Mail, GBR.

"The Russian sax player breaks down genre borders". Paul Freeman / Entertainment Writer, USA

"Oleg Kireyev is that type of musician, whose love of mainstream was born during the days of its relative decline and when all around the world it was considered correct to experiment with ethnic music, jazz-rock or electric. Oleg created his first mainstream projects, taking into account all these modern trends, and for this particular reason the Western press names the saxophonist "revolutionary". Seemingly making the impression of revolution at the first sight – actually is a consistent and acknowledged development of ideas, which take root in classical jazz.

The first robust mainstream period has begun in the late 80’s, when Oleg Kireyev achieved recognition with ethno-jazz group "Orlan" in the USSR , and shortly after he moved to Poland for a couple years to fully concentrate himself on modern jazz. The well-known and respected Polish school has corrected his musical signature, and through two national schools (Polish jazz and Russian ethnic) Kireyev's sound was nutured. Oleg's sax voice took all the best from jazz tradition, and it freely uses modern musical language and keeps balance between old and new.

In 1994 Oleg Kireyev won a scholarship and went to the USA to study jazz in the famous school of saxophonist Bud Shank. This was after Bud Shank listened to Oleg's mainstream solo album "Romantic"(1994) and was very impressed by it. Kireyev discovered the native land of jazz, played in the band of the Shank school's best, performed at festivals in Portland and Seattle, made the acquaintance with many magnificent American jazzmen, meanwhile proving (showing on practice) in practice that classical jazz is still alive, interesting, and in perspective. The press emphasizes Oleg's simultaneous conformity to canons of old and current saxophone schools, and respect for tradition and existence of his own ideas.

In 1996 the Oleg Kireyev quartet was invited to perform at Montreux Jazz Festival (Switzerland), where he was awarded a certificate for "outstanding performance at the 30th anniversary Festival". And soon after that Kireyev released an album in Poland – “Song For Sonny”, which was recorded in collaboration with special guest pianist Joachim Mencel. This work gave Oleg recognition in a new country – Great Britain. In 1997 Oleg Kireyev performed at the"Birmingham International Jazz Festival" where the press named him a "surprise" and "extraordinary tenor". The same year, he successfully took part in the "Earling jazz festival" (London) and since then Oleg Kireyev tours in England on a regular basis, as well as in other countries.

Like many great jazzmen, Oleg Kireyev is not afraid to experiment with classical jazz in small bands. Meanwhile for his own band Oleg gathered together leading Russian musicians, which belong to the period of jazz growth. From time to time he changes members of the collective and invites so called "young lions" - musicians of a new generation, who have brilliant American school educations, and willingly invites guests, performing jazz standards and original works. Oleg develops his ethnic jazz, world music and smooth jazz projects at the same time, which allow him to remain diverse on the jazz scene.

Combining the career of a musician and artistic director, Oleg shapes the "face" of the best jazz club “Union of Composers” (Soyuz Kompozitorov) in modern Moscow. Here his quartet-in-residence wins the hearts of listeners, while constantly improving the program and organizing special concert-tributes devoted to a creative heritage of great jazz musicians. The quartet and Oleg's trio work fruitfully with leading contemporary musicians from the USA, who are often touring in Russia. A variety of creative concepts which are brought by these musicians to Russia lets Oleg's band absorb absolutely unique interaction from the "front line" of a contemporary jazz.

Kireyev's tours can easily be compared to the tours of world jazz stars. So, after 20-day tours across Poland, there was a big article in the legendary magazine «Jazz Forum». Musicians from different countries cooperate with Oleg, personifying the current condition of improvisational music, and often this cooperation has a rather international character. In the near future Oleg has a Polish tour with the American pianist Keith Javors, to whom the whole jazz world is trying to measure, because he is capable to perceiving classical jazz as an actual art.

Today's Kireyev is a world-class musician, whose national identity does not make any difference for colleagues and promoters. He plays on various stages, in absolutely different countries, and performs original music in absolutely unique styles (from classical jazz to world music) – and thus never allows art to turn into commerce. «Incredibly solid, soft, full of enthusiasm, stylish and high-class (quality) sound» - so Americans say about Oleg's saxophone. «Energy – self-contained. Flexibility - amazing. Erudition – the broadest» - so Russians speak about Oleg Kireyev.

Member Since:

апреля 17, 2007

Influences:

Dexter Gordon, Sonny Rollins, Horace Silver, Joshua Redman, Bud Shank, John Coltrane, Joe Zawinul, Sting, Miles Davis, Sade, John McLaughlin, Brecker Brothers, Weather Report, Wayne Shorter, Jan Garbarek, Trilok Gurtu, Benny Golson, Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, Stan Getz, Dave Brubeck, Bobby McFerrin

Sounds Like:

Press quotes

"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 the unstructured jazz". --Bud Shank, musician , USA...

What's cool (to me, at least) about the result is how unabashed the band is in swinging genuinely hard on chestnut exotica like Puerto Rican-born Ellington trombonist Juan Tizol's "Caravan," which Kireyev turned to as an encore, and seems born to blow, dervish-like. --Howard Mandel, president of the Jazz Journalists Association, USA

"A Russian sax player with a reputation for hard swing and high excitement..." --The Express Star, GBR.

"The musician performing looked like a priest of a strange music patronizing God. Through all the night his eyes were shining with that fire of a man who totally devoted himself to the deed beloved". --OpenMusic magazine, Russia.

"The tenor saxophonist from Ufa in the Urals is establishing a reputation as an entertaining and skilled musician... Revolutionary Russian reedman Oleg Kireyev..." --The Evening Mail, GBR.

"The Russian sax player breaks down genre borders". --Paul Freeman / Entertainment Writer, USA

This Russian cat has been a genre splicer for quite a while now and he has the chops to chop it down and build it all right back up properly. A tasty world amalgam of stuff from his native territory as well as other grounds he’s traveled, this is wide open jazzy world beat date with so many other accents in the mix it’s better to sit down and enjoy it rather than analyze it, particularly if this is your glass of tea. Check it out particularly if you ride the progressive world beat tip. --CHRIS SPECTOR, Editor and Publisher, Midwest Record, USA

Wow! These Russians, and one African, really cook! According to the liner notes, I am hearing jazz music infused with Moldavian and Asian melodies and African rhythms. Is that what this wonderful stuff is? If so, I am hooked. --Walter Kolosky, jazz.com, USA

Saxophonist Oleg Kireyev's Mandala is a most interesting release. At a mere three minutes and thirty-six seconds, the title track alone is an audible sonic feast with everything from thrash rock guitar, electronics, a Russian dance theme, and primal chants to Indian tabla percussion, all packed into a strong groove momentum. --Mark F. Turner, All About Jazz, USA

This excellent CD (Mandala) is enthusiastically recommended to world jazz enthusiasts --Alex Henderson, All Music Guide, USA

Russian saxophonist Oleg Kireyev and his guest artists bring yet another unique collection of jazz music to the listeners! With nine songs, this powerhouse collection of various jazz styles emphasizing world music themes, succeeds in further spreading the awareness of the new jazz coming out of contemporary Russia. It is full of verve, spunk, and emotion! Another winning jazz entry from Russian saxophonist Oleg Kireyev, a fine talent in contemporary Russian jazz! Enjoyable! --Lee Prosser about CD "Galaxy" (2007), jazzreview.com

Wow! I said, and settled in to listen to a new soprano saxophone performer from Russia! Incredibly good and smooth, full of verve, and style, and class, and that is what Russian soprano saxophonist Oleg Kirejev is all about in this CD release titled "SONG FOR SONNY" (1995). --Lee Prosser, jazzreview.com

Record Label:

Miras Art, Jazzheads