Alexei Aigui, violinist and leader of Ensemble 4’33″, performed at DOM in Moscow with the Japanese group Hikashu. It looked like a wild night of improv. Thanks to Alexeï for supplying me the link to this video.
You don’t run into too many cool jazz violinists. When I was younger, I worked with a brilliant guy named Ted who got me hooked into jazz. As I experimented with slabs of vinyl, I came across Billy Bang’s name, and was instantly blown away by his music. City Newspaper of Rochester, Maryland, reports that Billy passed away on April 11. RIP.
The pioneers of Russian avant-garde jazz and improvisational music are captured in fine form performing at a festival in Lithuania from 2005.