Yuri Turchyn

World class, A-list performances and original music by 5-string jazz violinist Yuri Turchyn whose international flair crisscrosses cultures, blending Gypsy Jazz, Afro Cuban, Latin Beat into fusion symmetry and string swing along with his distinctive voice and smooth, melodic vocals. A singer/songwriter, he composes and arranges original music while having a highly visible career as a featured premier performing artist.

An “International Jazz Cat,” Yuri was featured at the West Bloor Street Festival, Toronto and toured with renowned Gypsy jazz, acoustic trio, BARTENDER, performing at the Umbria Folk Festival in Orvieto, Italy returning for several tours to the Umbria-Tuscany area. He performed with Pat Guadagno & Tired Horses at BOBFEST, an annual birthday tribute to Bob Dylan's music; American soul singer, Delores Holmes; produced audio engineered, as well as string arranger–playing violin, lead and bass guitar for the compilation CD release "Juntamente" and "Vida Y Amor" with Joanne Martinez and Paulo Pinho, Teatro Si Productions; and is currently performing with Butch Campbell, Ruben Austin and Richard Cantor, “Mostly Jazz Trio+1.”

Born and raised in Trenton, New Jersey, Yuri began playing violin at age six. He continued into his high school years winning the Mercer County String Competition, then turned to guitar and song writing, learning classical voice techniques with vocal coach, Tom Rexdale, a prominent ragtime piano player and "Professor of Singing" out of Julliard.

Yuri was a founding member of Kinderhook, arguably one of the most popular country rock bands during the 1970s, contributing to the early establishment of the New Jersey music scene, famously undertaking Jean Luc Ponty's "New Country" onto an unrivaled measure in their performance circles at The Stone Pony, Capitol Theater, Schaeffer Summer Music Festival. Subsequently, he performed original music with Bombay; traditional Irish folk tunes with Trinity II; and was a substantial contributor to the compositions of Gunther Ford in The World. Over the next decade, Yuri turned to harmonic influences of Steely Dan, Manhattan Transfer with a progressive rock approach for his vocally infused band, "Now, Voyager." His CD, "Currents" is made up of original compositions drawing poetic inspiration from genres including classical, jazz, folk music and world music.

Through the integrations of Latin, Jazz and World Music-based rhythms, seductive melodies and interweaving instrumentals became the standard of excellence for Yuri Turchyn+GRUPO YURI quintet on the jazz club and festival circuit. They performed at world-class jazz festivals, regional concerts and prestigious clubs including Red Bank Jazz and Blues Festival, Point Pleasant Jazz Festival, Trumpets, Montclair; Sweet Sounds of Downtown Jazz Series, Westfield; South Orange Performing Arts Center; Burgdorff Cultural Center, Maplewood; Galeria West Art Gallery, Westfield; 16 Prospect; The Goat Cafe; Shanghai Jazz; Tim McLoone’s Supper Club in Asbury Park; Trenton International Jazz Festival, Roselle Summer Concert Series; Downtown Cafe, Red Bank; Giamano’s Jazz and Blues Club, Chico’s House of Jazz; Paterson Museum.

Tags