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Alex Sipiagin

Alex Sipiagin was born on June 11, 1967 in Yaroslavl, Russia, a provincial city 150 miles from Moscow known for being home to one of Russia’s most famous opera singers, Leonid Sobinov, also Alex’s great-grand uncle. At 12 years of age, he began playing in a children's orchestra, studying under the great symphonic trumpeter and teacher, Mikhael Tsamaiev, his first inspiration. It was shortly after entering a local musical college at age 15 that Sipiagin was introduced to and inspired by what few and rare taped recordings were available in Russia of bebop and other jazz music. He knew he had to go to Moscow for a chance to learn more, and at 16 auditioned for the Moscow Music Institute, where he beat out 50 other students to get in. There he combined his classical studies with explorations into jazz. At 19 and after receiving his Baccalaureate, Sipiagin served the mandatory 2 years in the Russian army and then, upon release, continued his classical training and music studies at the Gnessin Conservatory in Moscow, earning tuition on pop gigs and recording sessions.

In 1990, Alex won first place in a Russian young jazz players’ competition in Rostov City. That same year, with "Glasnost" in fully sway, he visited the United States for the first time, performing with a Russian student jazz band, Green Wave, when they were asked to headline the Corpus Christi Jazz Festival in Texas. He caught the attention and ears of many, and was invited to participate in the International Louis Armstrong Competition sponsored by the Thelonius Monk Institute in Washington D.C. Other trumpeters competing were those who would later become today's prominent players such as Ryan Kaiser, Scott Wendtholt, Nicolas Payton, and others. Alex placed 4th in the competition, and was presented a Bach trumpet by the legendary Clark Terry, the trumpet which he still plays to this day.

Following a challenging year, in 1991 Alex decided to pursue jazz to the next level and moved to New York City. He sat in on jam sessions until he snagged his first jazz gig in 1992, playing every Monday night at Sweet Basil with the Gil Evans Band directed by Miles Evans. Then in 1993 he became a member of Gil Goldstein’s Zebra Coast Orchestra, which replaced the Gil Evan’s Band slot on Monday nights at Sweet Basil. In 1994, Sipiagin became a regular member of the George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band while performing also with drummer Bob Moses’ band, Mozamba. Trumpeters Earl Gardner and Randy Brecker introduced Sipiagin to become a member of the Mingus Big Band in 1995, of which he is still a regular member, as well as the Mingus Dynasty and Mingus Orchestra. Since 2000, Dave Holland invited him to be a regular member of his big band and currently with his various small groups, and in 2003 he recorded with Michael Brecker’s Quindectet, which he has heavily toured with alongside Michael Brecker’s Sixtet. Many of the recordings he has been involved in has won Grammy's. He has also performed with Eric Clapton, Dr. John, Aaron Neville and Elvis Costello, Michael Franks, Dave Sanborn, etc.

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Liner Notes

Bill Bruford: The Summerfold Collection 1987-2008

Read "Bill Bruford: The Summerfold Collection 1987-2008" reviewed by John Kelman


Intrepid percussionist/composer/bandleader Bill Bruford began his career in the late '60s art-rock arena with Yes and, later, King Crimson, but jazz has always moved underneath, like an eddying current. His early recordings, well documented on the companion Winterfold Collection, may not speak the language of jazz, but they possess its spirit. By 1986, Bruford was looking for a new path. Crimson had again dissolved, the 1981-'84 incarnation having provided him with the opportunity to explore nascent electronic drum ...

7
Liner Notes

Opus 5: Introducing Opus 5

Read "Opus 5: Introducing Opus 5" reviewed by Josef Woodard


The Evident Charms and Secret Powers of Five For all the myriad varieties and contextual possibilities under the rubric of what makes for a valid jazz group, there is something distinctively powerful and tradition-enriched about the number five. Smaller groups tighten up the focus on individual voices involved, and often frame a specified protagonist leader, while larger groupings accentuate the greater good of the team. By contrast, the quintet format, especially in the conventional format of trumpet and tenor sax ...

2
Album Review

Michael Dease: Best Next Thing

Read "Best Next Thing" reviewed by Kyle Simpler


Like many other talented musicians, Michael Dease always looks for ways to take his music to the next level. He is continually exploring and looking ahead rather than simply resting on his laurels. Because of this passion and determination, he has earned a reputation as a top session player and as a band leader in his own right. Best Next Thing is Dease's ninth album for Posi-Tone Records, and it is an impressive addition to his discography. With ...

8
Album Review

Opus 5: Swing On This

Read "Swing On This" reviewed by Paul Beard


Recorded in September 2021, at the Samurai Hotel Recording Studio under the direction of Mike Marciano, this is the fifth album from contemporary jazz group, Opus 5. Entitled Swing On This, it comprises eight tracks that average around seven minutes each. Hailing from the Netherlands, Opus 5 is a stylish quintet made up of Seamus Blake on tenor saxophone and Alex Sipiagin on trumpet, with drums by Donald Edwards, bass in the hands of Boris Kozlov and last ...

1
In Pictures

Alex Sipiagin All Star Band at Jazzontheroadfestival 2022

Read "Alex Sipiagin All Star Band at Jazzontheroadfestival 2022" reviewed by Danilo Codazzi


A collection of photos from the Alex Sipiagin All-Star Band concert at Jazzontheroad festival 2022 in Brescia on July 9, 2022 featuring Alex Sipiagin on trumpet, Wayne Escoffery on saxophone, Antonio Faraò on piano, Doug Weiss on bass and Jeff Ballard on drums. ...

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Radio & Podcasts

A Selection Of Brand New Releases

Read "A Selection Of Brand New Releases" reviewed by Bob Osborne


On this week's show all new releases from Alex Sipiagin, Amanda Irarrázabal and Miriam Den Boer Salmón, David Murray Brave New World Trio, Peter Erskine, Alan Pasqua & Darek Oles, Brian Molley Quartet, Bagland, E3 by Alex Lacusta, and Mary Halvorson.Playlist Show Intro 00:00 Alex Sipiagin “Rush Hour" from Ascent To The Blues (Posi-tone) 00:50 Amanda Irarrázabal and Miriam Den Boer Salmón “Pelicanos" from Fauces (577 Records) 05:55 David Murray Brave New World Trio “Necktar" from Seriana Promethea ...

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Album Review

Misha Tsiganov: Misha's Wishes

Read "Misha's Wishes" reviewed by Edward Blanco


New York-based pianist and composer Misha Tsiganov, a well-established jazz veteran having appeared on countless albums throughout his career, presents his seventh recording as leader with Misha's Wishes, conceived and birthed during the COVID pandemic, when his time at home offered the perfect opportunity to develop this project. The long-time isolation during 2020 allowed the pianist to write, as he states, “some nice music that people will enjoy," which he certainly accomplishes here, providing seven originals in addition to reimagined ...

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Event

Thailand International Jazz Conference 2019: World-Class Jazz Artists Join The Stage Of The TIJC!

Thailand International Jazz Conference  2019:  World-Class Jazz Artists Join The Stage Of The TIJC!

Source: Thailand International Jazz Conference

The College of Music, Mahidol University, host of the event, brings together the selection of the world-class jazz artists from America and Europe, the region recognized as producing the world's best jazz artists of today. Together with the renowned Thai artists that will give you the ultimate joy in TIJC 2019, the 11th Thailand International Jazz Conference under the theme “Chill out Around Jazz", which will be held on 25-27 January 2019. Dr Narong Prangcharoen, Dean of the College of ...

Performance / Tour

East End Arts Presents Alex Sipiagin Quintet in Concert: Saturday, August 4 at Full Moon Arts Center, East Moriches, NY

East End Arts Presents Alex Sipiagin Quintet in Concert: Saturday, August 4 at Full Moon Arts Center, East Moriches, NY

Source: Two for the Show Media

East End Arts is thrilled to present the Alex Sipiagin Quintet in concert on Saturday, August 4, 2012, in collaboration with Full Moon Arts Center. The intimately-set performance will take place at Full Moon Arts Center in East Moriches, with a special opportunity to meet the artists prior to the concert during a private cocktail party with Alex and the quintet, and a special performance and gift; starting at 6 PM, the VIP entry ticket is $125 per person. General ...

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Recording

Trumpeter/Composer Alex Sipiagin Releases New CD on Criss Cross Jazz Titled "Destinations Unknown"

Trumpeter/Composer Alex Sipiagin Releases New CD on Criss Cross Jazz Titled "Destinations Unknown"

Source: Two for the Show Media

Alex Sipiagin's inspired ensemble writing on the seven tracks that comprise Destinations Unknown makes it clear that the 43-year-old trumpet master had ample time to infuse the process with tender loving care. Sipiagin recounts that Gerry Teekens notified him of the January 2011 recording date the previous July. First, he reached out to first-callers Chris Potter, David Binney, Craig Taborn, Boris Kozlov, and Eric Harland. He commenced to write sketches on sojourns to Spain, France, Italy, Taiwan, Japan, and Holland. ...

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Interview

Trumpeter Alex Sipiagin Interviewed at AAJ

Trumpeter Alex Sipiagin Interviewed at AAJ

Source: All About Jazz

The 1980s in the Soviet Union was a time when the role and rule of the Communist Party were being questioned and unmasked by the policy of “glasnost"--less censorship and greater freedom of information--that was emerging. Some jazz was played in the U.S.S.R. since before World War II. Even during the height of the Cold War, in 1962, Benny Goodman performed in Moscow (a concert attended by Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev). But glasnost did not take hold until roughly the ...

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Performance / Tour

Bendy-Pastorius Group (Mon) David Kikoski (Tue) Titus Ribas (Wed) Alex Sipiagin (Thu) Manuel Valera (Fri-Sat) This Week at Cachaca

Bendy-Pastorius Group (Mon) David Kikoski (Tue) Titus Ribas (Wed) Alex Sipiagin (Thu) Manuel Valera (Fri-Sat) This Week at Cachaca

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

Cachaa 35 West 8th St (bet. 5th & 6th Aves.) NYC * tel 212-388-9099 sets at 9,11 & 1am * $10 cover, $15 min. Menus from selected restaurants available New York City's Newest Jazz Hang In The Heart of Greenwich Village This Week At Cachaca Mon. 13 Bendy-Pastorius Group Featuring Julius and Felix Pastorius and the two Bendy brothers Julius on drums, ...

"Sipiagin...crafts arrangements and originals that are more about an elastic sense of time...He's not afraid to walk a musical tightrope without need for a safety net...At the rate he's going, there's no telling what even greater breakthroughs lie ahead for this forward-thinking musician." — C. Andrew Hovan, All About Jazz

"Sipiagin blows modern and lyrical..." — John Fordhan, Jazz Times

"(Sipiagin's) tone is taut and resonant, crisply defining the lead lines and smoothly converting them into long, free-flowing channels of melody...While he still clearly remains within the post-bop paradigm, Sipiagin is too good a leader and improviser to let that constrain the texturing and the jamming..." — Michael Pronko, Japan Times

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Mel's Vision

Criss Cross
2023

buy

Misha's Wishes

Criss Cross
2022

buy

Best Next Thing

Posi-Tone Records
2022

buy

Swing On This

Criss Cross
2022

buy

The Latin Side of...

Savant Records
2022

buy

Mestizo

Posi-Tone Records
2022

buy

Calming

From: Alex Sipiagin: Live at Smalls
By Alex Sipiagin

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