VLADIMIR VOLKOV - Double Bass, Viola Da Gamba Vladimir Volkov, one of the leading free-jazz-musicians of Europe, is a music phenomenon surpassing different genres and styles. The musicians of his Volkovtrio combine avantgarde, improvised music with traditional folklore roots in a very creative way. They played on many international stages and won several international awards. Vladimir Volkov also played in "Collegium Europe", run by Wieland Kuyken, "The Moscow Composers Orchestra" and in the Cross Culture Project "Vershki da Koreshki" (VeDaKi) with musicians from Senegal and Tuva. He also worked with Anatoly Vapirov, Petras Vysniauskas, Tomasz Stanko, Ernst Reijseger, Kenny Wheeler, Bobo Stenson, Ned Rothenberg, Klaus Kugel, Michael Moore and Kaigal-ool Khovalyg (Huun Huur Tu). In 1998 he played in the project Black Sea with Izmailov, Tavitian, Vapirov and Yankoulov which was especially organized for the Leipzig Jazz Festival. Since then he has played with Arkady Shilkloper and Sergey Starostin of Moscow Art Trio and with Sainkho Namchylak and Vladimir Tarasov. In 1999 he has toured with his band "Vershki da Koreshki" and the Norwegian singer Mari Boine thoughout Europe. PROJECTS: Duet with Vyacheslav Gayvoronsky, Trio with Arkadi Schilkloper and Sergey Starostin, Vershki da Koreshki Group, New East Quartet feat. Tomasz Stanko, Baltic Quartet with Bobo Stenson, Petras Vysniauskas and Klaus Kugel. The Volkov Trio dates from 1995 with Slava Kurashov (guitar) and Denis "Ringo" Sladkeyevich (drums). REVIEWS Jazz Podium: "Volkov's playing is like the wind in spring - sometimes stormy, somethimes lyrically touching, sometimes dark - then bright. An exceptional bass player" Alex Ruhle / Suddeutsche Zeitung: "... in this highly intelligent experiment in the field of ethno free jazz Volkov is playing his double bass with marvelous speed and succeeds in making the big box floating and chirping." BBC, UK: “The Volkov Trio's trademark is a dense, rhythmic, murky, almost rocky ambience”. Europalia, Belgium: “Vladimir Volkov est l’un des bassistes les plus talentueux du jazz russe. Son jeu est décrit comme «un vent de printemps qui soudain souffle en tempête, puis redevient lyrique, qui parfois s’assombrit pour s’éclaircir ensuite. Un bassiste d’exception.» (Jazz Podium) En plus de Vladimir Volkov, le trio compte le guitariste Slava Kurashov et Dennis Sladkevitch. Musique intense, rythmée qui alterne mélodies et improvisations de caractère”. -----------oOo----------- ARKADY SHILKLOPER – French horn, flugelhorn Born in Moscow, Russia, 17/10/56, Arkady,one of the most unusual Russian musicians, plays French horn, flugelhorn, alphorn and many more wind instruments. From 1978 to 1985 he was a member of the orchestra of the Bolshoi Theatre. Alongside with that he started playing traditional jazz with double-bass player Mikhail Karetnikov and avant-garde jazz in Tri-O project with saxophonist Sergei Letov and tuba player Arkady Kirichenko (1985-1990). Since the collapse of the former Soviet Union Shilkloper has worked independently both as a solo performer and, since 1988, in a duo with piano player Misha Alperin (since 1991, with Alperin and Starostin in the Moscow Art Trio) and in other formations. He played with Lionel Hampton, Elvin Jones, Lew Soloff and Herb Ellis. He also has worked with Pierre Favre, Louis Sclavis, Rabih Abou-Khalil, Jon Christensen, Bob Stewart. Since 1997, he also plays in two Russian trios: one with St. Petersburg's best jazzmen - acoustic bassist Vladimir Volkov and piano player Andrei Kondakov and the other with Volkov and Sergei Starostin. Arkady also participates in international project like Pago Libre and Christian Muthspiel's Octet Ost and records as a guest musician with bands like Vienna Art Orchestra (since January, 1998, Arkady performs and records extensively with this unique formation based in Vienna, Austria). Shilkloper is in demand as a soloist and a teacher for brass instrument workshops and horn symposia the world over. Performed worldwide at leading Jazz festivals (Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, Moscow, Idaho; North Sea Jazz Festival; Baltic Jazz, Graz Jazz Brass Festival, Salzburg Jazzherbst, Alpentone (Altdorf, Switzerland), jazz festivals in Leverkusen, Munich, Leipzig, Karlsruhe, Grenoble, Nurnberg, Beijing (China), Mulhouse, etc.). "Los Angeles Times", 26/11/90, by Leonard Feather: Moscow, Idaho - It is a long trip from Moscow to Moscow, but for Arkady Shilkloper it was worth the effort. The Soviet French horn virtuoso was one of four Jazzmen from the Soviet Union who arrived here last week to take part in the 23rd annual University of Idaho Jazz Festival at his home town's namesake city. Shilkloper, 33, on his first visit to the United States was the artistic sensation of the four-day event. "Horncall", 1988, by Jeffrey Agrell: Shilkloper and his bass player swing like nobody's business. He rips and riffs and goes places that horn players aren't supposed to go without a net, map, seat belt, crash helmet, overhead air support, and a note from their mothers. And he does so with extraordinary ease and musicality. I think maybe nobody ever told him "Jazz playing on horn is very difficult, and probably not natural or perhaps the phrase does not translate into Russian. I'd walk a camel a mile to hear this guy. "Jazz Times", June 1994, by Leonard Feather: "Another was the incredible Arkady Shilkloper, who brought his French horn from Moscow, Russia to Moscow, Idaho His control of the instrument, and his blowing creativity have set a new standard, even Julius Watkins, his idol never produced such results." "The Independent", London: "Unlike other European groups... the Moscow Art Trio don't have to try to sound Post-Modem, they just are, and in a way that is what makes what they play look and sound both utterly contemporary and timeless... Once word gets out, this will be the band to book for every Festival going".