On the connection between Russian music and jazz

At first glance, the relationship between Russian music and jazz may seem dissimilar. However, if we unravel the history of 20th century music, we find that there is a surprisingly deep connection between the two. Here we will explore the intersections between Russian composers and jazz, and their musical influences.

1. encounter between Russian music and jazz at the beginning of the 20th century

From the 1910s to the 1920s, when jazz music was born in the United States, the Russian music world was undergoing a rapid transformation. Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring" (1913) completely overturned the concept of Western music, and around the same time Prokofiev and Shostakovich also began to develop avant-garde styles. In fact, Russian composers of this period were already showing interest in jazz.

During his stay in the United States in the 1920s, Prokofiev was influenced by ragtime and blues and introduced rhythmic elements in his piano works "Sarkasm" Op. 17 (1912) and "Piano Concerto No. 3" Op. 26 (1921). In the late 1920s, he also composed "Symphony No. 4" Op. 47 (1930) and other works with jazz rhythms in mind.

Shostakovich studied jazz in earnest from the late 1920s to the 1930s, and wrote "Jazz Suite No. 1" in 1934. This work reflects elements of American swing jazz, which was imported to the Soviet Union at the time, and has the character of light dance music. The subsequent "Jazz Suite No. 2" (1938) was similarly a work that actively incorporated elements of jazz.



The Soviet Union and Jazz after the Russian Revolution

In the Soviet Union after the Russian Revolution, while jazz was initially criticized as "the corrupted music of Western capitalism," its appeal as a popular culture could not be ignored. Especially during the NEP (New Economic Policy) period in the 1920s, jazz music was performed in cafes and theaters in Moscow and Leningrad, and many composers were influenced by it.

In this vein, the first Soviet jazz orchestra, led by Leonid Uchesov, was formed in 1928. Uchesov was influenced by American Duke Ellington and Paul Whiteman, and developed a jazz style unique to the Soviet Union. His orchestra also involved musicians such as Anatoly Kornilov and Alexei Kozlov, who later laid the foundation of Soviet jazz.



3. the fusion of Russian composers and jazz

Stravinsky composed "Ebony Concerto" (1945), which was premiered by the Woody Herman Orchestra. The work is known as an attempt to fuse classical music and jazz, and is characterized by the rhythmic diversity typical of Stravinsky and the improvisatory nature of jazz.

Kabalevsky was another composer to incorporate jazz elements, and jazz influences can be seen in his "Clown" Suite (1938) and "Piano Concerto No. 3, Op. 50" (1952).



Jazz and its legacy in the late Soviet era

From the 1950s onward, jazz gradually became officially recognized in the Soviet Union, and in the 1970s, bands such as Arsenal led by Alexei Kozlov appeared and established their own style incorporating fusion jazz. Kozlov, in particular, contributed to the jazz culture of the late Soviet period by creating many works that fused Russian folk music and jazz.

Thus, Russian music and jazz have influenced each other throughout the 20th century, creating a rich musical dialogue. Even today, Russian jazz musicians are arranging and performing new interpretations of works by Shostakovich and Prokofiev. This history of fusion will continue to be an important factor in the development of music.