Legendary American Jazz Stars Performed in Moscow
Location: Moscow
Date: June 27, 2006
On June 27, Harlem Jazz & Blues Band performed at the Moscow International House of Music. The group was founded in 1973 with a unique goal — to give good musicians, who entered "the classical jazz period" in popular American jazz and blues groups, the chance not to be forgotten and enter into the spotlight again. From the moment of its founding, the group always was strongly connected with the work of Louis Armstrong: in the group there were musicians, who at various times performed and recorded with Armstrong. The current members of the Harlem Jazz & Blues Band include pianist John Miller, trombonist and composer Art Baron, tenor-saxophonist Fred Stanton, percussionist Shelton Gary, double-bass Michael Max Fleming. Ruth Brisbane has already been the group's vocalist for many years. The group performed on Broadway in many different musicals in London and Paris. The soloist of the group, the incomparable Joy Morant remains one of the most dynamic and brilliant trumpet players of modern jazz. The unique musicians of the Harlem Jazz & Blues Band were not simply witnesses of a great jazz era, but its most active participants. They played with all the stars of the genre, and they were able to preserve the sound of classical jazz in its pure form.