Culture (as Art) Is a Very Complex Thing ...

 ... here is one of the greatest Russian piano players who ever walked this earth, Denis Matsuev,  giving an incredible classic music concert in ... jazz and blues tones. When you have the whole orchestra ... rocking. What can I say, enjoy. Including the conclusion with Sviridov's Time Forward going into the Christmas Tree. Blues and Jazz, which are purely American art forms, are immortal ... 

Yes, remember these guys saying to Bethoven to roll over ...

It is universal ... 

In Defense...

 ... of what was and is always great about true American culture. I am having this discussion for years now. Gershwin, Rhapsody in Blue, blues, jazz. Here is one of the most important classical pianists of the age, Denis Matsuev plays Gershwin as he was supposed to be played by Gods of music. This is Russia and Tatar Republic Symphonic Orchestra doing it:

This is about blues/jazz culture. Speaking of which. Enjoy Stravinsky and Russian Avant-garde. So much in common. 

But then again, the path to John Zorn or Allan Holdsworth is not an easy one, much processing power is needed. And don't get me started on modern metal music.

Music Is Transcendent. Matsuev Playing Gershwin And Blues.

It is Friday. Thanks To Casey I joined in. Watch from the beginning (including Covid-19 speech), but Denis Matsuev and his trio playing blues and variations on Gershwin (starting from 00:47) is something to behold.  Jazz and Blues, and Rhapsody In Blue, are immortal as is Tchaikovsky's music. 

Enjoy this magic.  Hint: add good bourbon and a good cigar and it becomes irresistible. Matsuev is, obviously, a genius.

This Is Magic, Pure Magic...

As Coltrane was (yeah, the real Black Art), so is this girl from India....Mind boggling. Why do you think aliens spoke to Earthlings in The Close Encounters Of The Third Kind using music. It is a universal language. 

It is Friday...

Some Very Bluesy-Jazzy Moscow.

I don't know if there is Tchaikovsky or Rachmaninoff Plaza  anywhere in US, but Russians surely love their American real culture, especially when it comes to jazz. Savelosvsky City, a complex of condos not far from Savelovsky Railroad Station (we used to stay nearby with our relatives all the time, until they moved) and the names of the buildings speak volumes. 

       

Goodman, Davis, King, Ellington, Coltrane.

It is rather a good reminder of those jazz and blues giants' achievement and it looks good too.

    

Still Under Construction

Especially against Moscow's magnificent skyline: 

              

 

I didn't have a chance to look up prices for apartments there but I am sure they are not cheap. Moscow is expensive, as one may expect. I hate to live in high rises (skyscrapers) but boy, I am sure the view from the 46th floor penthouses from Ellington and Coltrane should be astounding. The third of those apartment blocks, properly named Armstrong is coming too.

    

Armstrong To The Very Right

I just thought that I share with you with Russian architectural and cultural attitudes.

Listen To Him While He Is Still Alive.

My favorite guitar and music genius of all time, incomparable rock, jazz and fusion maestro--Allan Holdsworth. He defies definitions, he creates magic out of nothing and yes, he is still better than you:

        

He is a creator of a brightly lit spaces. If you want to hear Allan rocking out, listen to his famous, probably first ever, shred on Soft Machine's Hazard Profile--it was 1974. And yes, he played with everybody from Eddie Van Hallen to Steve Vai and they bowed to him as Steve Said "in being completely humbled". Here is one of very, very many favorite pieces by him--a magic. What you hear here as keyboards--they are not, he plays Synthaxe. 

     

He influenced everybody.