"I was very impressed with Arkadiy Figlin`s interpretation of standard compositions on this CD...He needs to be seen and heard more!"-HORACE SILVER. For some obscure reason it is very difficult for a classical musician to switch over to jazz. Of course jazzmen recognize the importance of an academic education. However they can somehow sense an academic musician with a jazz inferiority complex (putting it mildly), which is possibly incurable. Exeptions are rare but-when they do occur-are invariably fortunate. Such is the case with Arkadiy Figlin."Parts of a Whole" was his last album recorded in USSR only months before leaving for USA in 1991.By that time Arkadiy Figlin, graduate of Moscow Gnessin Institute with Master degree in classical piano performance and pedagogy, was already referred to as rising star of jazz by both media and audience in Soviet Union and Europe. In 1989 he became the first soviet jazz musician to participate in major jazz competitions such as 11th Hoeelaart International jazz Contest in Belgium and First Martial Solal International jazz piano Competition in Paris, France where he was awarded with the Third Prize. Around the same time Arkadiy Figlin began making frequent appearances at jazz festivals in USSR and abroad. His solo and trio performance at Italy's Ivrea International jazz festival was highly praised by reviewers and audience as well. Upon arrival to USA Arkadiy Figlin quickly established himself in both classical and jazz fields. He appeared as soloist with Chautauqua Symphony, Ashland Symphony, CMSFO, Clarence Summer Symphony and Princeton Symphony in Gershwin,Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev, Emerson and Poulenc piano concertos as well as jazz pianist both solo and with his trio in New York City where he lives and all over America. In 1998 he became first non-American pianist ever to win one of the most prestigious competitions in the world of jazz-The Great American Jazz piano competition in Jacksonville, Florida. Summer of 2005 was one of the busiest for the pianist so far. During two-week stretch in July Arkadiy appeared as the soloist with Ashland Symphony under baton of Maestro Arie Lipsky in Gershwin`s Concerto in F,with Chautauqua Symphony(conductor-Maestro Akiro Endo) in Rachmaninoff`s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini and finally participated in 40th anniversary Pori International Jazz Festival in Finland-one of the oldest and biggest in the world, where Mr.Figlin had 15 concerts in 8 days both as a soloist and a guest with different groups. In November 2006 Arkadiy Figlin was invited to perform Gershwin`s Rhapsody in Blue with Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra under Maestro Arie Lipsky.The Ann Arbor News wrote: "The evening's centerpiece, George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue,'' was just marvelous. Piano soloist Arkadiy Figlin's expressive keyboard work would have been captivating even if he had been unaccompanied. Having the A2SO on hand was the icing on the cake. Even conductor Arie Lipsky was listening intently to see where Figlin might go next, with bits of improvisation peppering Gershwin's familiar work." Here`s some reaction from the audience members: "...had to tell you how impressed I was with the pianist saturday night. Typically I recall that Rhapsody in Blue gets a note-by-note rendition of what Gershwin apparently wrote, even in the codas. This time, however, I was blown away by Arkadiy's improvisations, both by the references from the Rhapsody in Blue period (I lost count: Strike up the band, Summertime, Ain't misbehavin',.....?) AND by his technique. I had my mouth open, because I have never, ever heard a pianist in person who made me think of Art Tatum. This guy did.He was just amazing. You may know of how the jazz pianists of Art Tatum's era would jam at afterhours clubs, and they would all take a turn, including Duke Ellington, but they all agreed that once Art Tatum played, no one else did. No one wanted to play once Art Tatum had. I can imagine that piano players may be reluctant to jam after this guy plays. He's a tough act to follow." "...I heard you perform Gershwin's Rhapsody In Blue tonight with the Ann Arbor symphony and I was simply blown away! Having been a pianist myself now for twenty years, I was inspired after hearing your performance." Mr.Figlin`s most recent trio recording "RKD" with one of the best New York bass players Dmitri Kolesnik(Ron Carter`s student and protege) and legendary drummer Jimmy Madison(recorded and performed with such stars as Gerry Mulligan,George Benson,Stan Getz,Lee Konitz,Art Farmer,Carmen McRae and Chet Baker,to name a few!) has been highly praised by jazz great Horace Silver as well as many jazz pros and fans on both sides of Atlantic. Arkadiy Figlin`s accurate timing and rhythmic freedom, knowledge of the musical language of the great jazz masters and at the same time an individual flight of fantasy and imagination-few can boast all of these assets.