THE SKYSCRAPER STYLE
This is the image that comes up when one listens to the performance of pianist, composer and arranger Sergey Zhilin and his trio. It is something grandiose, elevated and multi-storied that can be seen only if you look up. Well, «the skyscraper» brings about an association with America, but then, it was America where jazz came from. True, Moscow too is on the rise, striving to have its own skyscrapers. Construction of Moscow City is not too far away.

However, this is only a plan, while Sergey has already built the sound version of his Moscow City in his new concert program «Russian classical masterpieces in jazz variants» (Tchaikovsky's pieces from «The Seasons»). It turned out to be a magical Russian skyscraper city. Sergey Zhilin absorbed many achievements of world pianism: he learned a lot from Oscar Peterson (Sergey's idol), Aroll Garner and Art Tatum, all of this mixed with solid foundation of Russian piano music (Sergey Rakhmaninov). Zhilin possesses a variety of skills and techniques from powerful large-scale elements (octave and chord passages) to exquisite small-scale vignettes.

Sergey is a master of intricate patterns and colorful touches who can resort to tempo variation (slow to fast) and sound nuances (fortissimo to pianissimo). But what matters the most is not so much the technique, but the fact that the musician who has at his disposal a multitude of the so-called «standards», made a courageous step towards national music and demonstrated the unlimited potential for its modern interpretation. While the majority of his colleagues are lagging behind the Americans (What else will they think of so we can imitate?), Sergey treads on new fertile soil.

What comes to my mind is a historic event that has nothing to do with music. In the late 50s, secret research was underway on the atomic bomb. It was codenamed «The Manhattan Project». Army General Groves supervised the research efforts of various scientists. When physicist Enrico Fermi succeeded in atomic nucleus fission, he sent the General a telegram saying: «The Italian sailor reached the New World». Our Sergey could send a telegram saying: «The Russian sailor reached the New Land». By the way, it was there that Russian nuclear tests took place! The question is who the recipient of such a telegram should be. It can be the Ministry of Culture that should pay attention to this extraordinary event: the birth of real Russian jazz that, like fission of the atomic nucleus, releases a powerful charge of energy!

The author of the above, upon the concert that was held on October 20 in the Chaikovsky Hall presenting the new Russian program, came to the conclusion that Sergey Zhilin qualifies to be nominated for the State Award of Russia! Unfortunately, so far my opinion is «the voice in the desert». But, hopefully, this voice will be heard and justice will prevail!

YURI MARKIN, composer, member of the Union of Russian Composers