They were the first to play jazz.

The jazz was presented to the music world by a meeting of two cultures – European and African. At the international wave in the early 20s of the twentieth century, the musical direction broke into the Land of the Soviets. We recall the performers who were the first to play jazz in the USSR.

“The first eccentric orchestra of the jazz band Valentina Parnakh in the RSFSR” debuted on stage in October 1922. It was not just a premiere, but a premiere of a new musical direction. Revolutionary for the music of the time, the team gathered a poet, musician and choreographer who lived in Europe for six years. Continue reading →