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Konstantin Ionenko

Konstantin Ionenko is a Ukrainian-based bassist & composer. He was born in Kharkiv, and got education at College of Music & University Of Arts (Conservatory). In 2003 moved to Kiev, where started playing with local jazz musicians in a variety of bands. At that time he travelled a lot, working in Europe & USA. Few years later Konstantin started working at Kiev Institute of Music, teaching bass & improvisation. He was also actively engaged in running workshops and jazz clinics. Apart from the academic career, he remained one of the most in-demand bass players in Ukrainian music business, being a constant member of the best jazz projects, sideman to popular artists & tv-shows, engaged in lots of touring and recording sessions. The year 2014 was very fruitful for Konstantin as a composer and band leader, since at that time two debut albums with original music composed by Konstantin were released. The first one - “Deep Immersion”, was recorded by Konstantin Ionenko Quintet, the second one was the CD named “Flow”, recorded by Konstantin’s co-leaded jazz quartet named Deep Tone project. Both of these albums were highly appreciated by various worldwide jazz critics and magazines, including "All About Jazz", "New York Jazz Record", to mention a few. One of the most prominent Konstantin’s projects was the international quartet, which included Ukrainian and Berlin-based musicians. In 2015 the quartet came up with an an album of original contemporary improvisation music called “Noema”. The CD was highly praised by critics around the world, and was listed in best recordings of the year at “All About Jazz”. In 2016 Deep Tone published their new album at famous Spanish label “Fresh Sound New Talent”. It was the only Ukrainian album released by the foreign label in year 2016. Last few years were the busiest in Konstantin’s career. His touring geography is vast: France, Germany, Spain, Italy, UK, Poland, Baltic Countries, Slovakia, Japan, etc. During the tour around USA he performed in United Nations Headquarter and in the White House. At the time being Konstantin Ionenko is one of the most inspired and creative young artists on Ukrainian jazz scene. He is a virtuoso musician as well as deep thinking composer, who is deeply appreciated by the audience, jazz critics and fellow jazz musicians.

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22
Album Review

Deep Tone Project: Onward

Read "Onward" reviewed by Mark Sullivan


Another fine collection of contemporary jazz from the Ukrainian collective band Deep Tone Project. The personnel is unchanged from their first album Flow (Fancy Music, 2014). But the compositional input is even more democratic. Previously split between guitarist Aleksandr Pavlov and bassist Konstantin Ionenko, this time a third of the tunes come from the pen of tenor saxophonist Viktor Pavelko. Ionenko plays upright bass on all but two selections here, giving the group a richer, more acoustic sound than on ...

62
Album Review

Konstantin Ionenko Quartet: Noema

Read "Noema" reviewed by Mark Sullivan


Ukrainian bassist/composer Konstantin Ionenko introduces a striking new quartet on Noema. His previous release Deep Immersion (Fancy Music, 2013) was a quintet with piano, trumpet and saxophone. Only Ionenko and drummer Pavel Galitsky remain from that group, joined by new members Dima Bondarev (flugelhorn) and Alex Maksymiw (guitar). There was precedent for working with a guitarist, in the form of the Deep Tone Project, which he co-led with guitarist Alexandr Pavlov on the album Flow (Fancy Music, 2014). Both of ...

45
Album Review

Konstantin Ionenko Quartet: Noema

Read "Noema" reviewed by Karl Ackermann


Bassist and composer Konstantin Ionenko continues to experiment with formations as he returns with yet another revised lineup on Noema. The name refers to a Greek word meaning “thought" or the content of thought. Recorded in Kiev, Ukraine and mastered in Moscow, the quartet album consists of eight original Ionenko compositions that bridge European chamber jazz and creative improvisation. As a composer, Ionenko has favored a refined blend of evocative lyricism and post-modern innovation and this release is no exception, ...

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Album Review

Konstantin Ionenko Quintet: Deep Immersion

Read "Deep Immersion" reviewed by Budd Kopman


The dark-toned, subtle, inviting and yet vaguely dangerous Deep Immersion represents electric bassist Konstantin Ionenko's project as a leader (and sole composer), the other being Flow from the Deep Tone Project, which he co-leads with guitarist Alexandr Pavlov. Ionenko does not hide this music's antecedents, which are sixties hard bop, complete with the two-horn front line declaiming the theme in unison, supported by a piano trio. However, this is no slavish copy of that era's aesthetic, nor even ...

23
Album Review

Deep Tone Project: Flow

Read "Flow" reviewed by Budd Kopman


Flow might just be the perfect record for late-night, candle light-and-wine listening with that special someone. As the music comes out of the speakers, it floats and softly envelops the room in deep violet, making time stop for the duration. If the group can be said have a leader, electric bassist Konstantin Ionenko would share the honors with guitarist Alexandr Pavlov, since they each composed four of the tunes. Tenor saxophonist Viktor Pavelko and drummer Pavel Galitsky round ...

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Album Review

Deep Tone Project: Flow

Read "Flow" reviewed by Karl Ackermann


Beyond the recent headlines there is a cultural history in Ukraine that has influenced much of Europe and Western Asia since the middle ages. Under the Soviet regime, much of the country's classical and religious music was banned while the region's folkloric music not only thrived but, after Ukrainian independence, remained a defensive mechanism to counter the unwelcome influence of Western music. Jazz in particular was suspect, having once been labeled by Pravda as “The Music of the Gross." Though ...

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Multiple Reviews

Two Konstantin Ionenko Releases on Fancy Music

Read "Two Konstantin Ionenko Releases on Fancy Music" reviewed by Mark Sullivan


Two recent releases from the Russian Fancy Music label feature Ukrainian bassist Konstantin Ionenko (they also have drummer Pavel Galitsky in common). Ionenko holds down the low end with an electric bass guitar, but the group sound on these recordings is primarily acoustic, with a bass approach similar to what a double bassist would play--no slapping or popping here. If these albums are indicative of the general quality of Ukrainian jazz playing, there must be a deep bench.

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Recording

Tokyo Label Core Port Releases "Deep Immersion" by Bassist & Composer Konstantin Ionenko

Tokyo Label Core Port Releases "Deep Immersion" by Bassist & Composer Konstantin Ionenko

Source: Valentyn Tsaryk

Over the last decade, Konstantin Ionenko has been engaged in several jazz projects spanning different countries, though only a small number of which were recorded and released. A solo project was just a matter of time as Ionenko's composing talent has been highly praised by colleagues and audience alike. His debut release Deep Immersion contains seven original songs composed by Ionenko, at different periods of his life. The quintet features bright and talented young musicians from the Ukraine and eastern ...

Primary Instrument

Bass

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Noema

Fancy Music
2016

buy

Onward

Fresh Sound New Talent
2016

buy

Flow (Japan)

Core Port
2015

buy

Noema (Japan)

Core Port
2015

buy

Noema

Fancy Music
2015

buy

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