Whether as a pianist, composer, improviser, soloist or bandleader, Vadim Neselovskyi creates music that is truly inspired and wholly unique. Hear his musical breadth and deft touch during an intimate solo performance of Odesa, an ode to his hometown that has served as an evocative  reminder of Ukraine’s beauty and cultural legacy in the months since the Russian invasion.

Generations of Odessa and Ukraine residents have witnessed strife and hardships. With his latest album, Vadim leads listeners through his Odesa, from the history he learned, his personal recollections and observations, and his dreams. In doing so crafts a singular tribute to the pearl of the Black Sea.

The PBS NewsHour has noted, “Neselovski is a rare mix of classically trained pianist and brilliant jazz improviser, a musical omnivore for whom different sounds have always flowed together.” All About Jazz recognized his singular versatility, referring to him as “a strong pianist [as well as] a composer who blends form and freedom in new ways.”

A child prodigy in still-Soviet Ukraine, Neselovskyi became the youngest student to be accepted into the famed Odessa Conservatory. While honing his classical virtuosity, he was hearing jazz giants Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea and Thelonious Monk via CDs sold by sailors passing through the bustling port city (or, more often, tapes dubbed from those CDs). At 17, he moved with his family to Dortmund, Germany, continuing his classical studies while establishing himself on the local jazz scene.

He moved to the United States to study at Berklee College of Music. He was then selected by Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and Terence Blanchard to attend the Thelonious Monk Institute, where he was awarded a full scholarship. This experience allowed him to share the stage with Hancock, Blanchard, Chaka Khan, John Scofield, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Benny Golson, Dee Dee Bridgewater and a number of other greats while touring internationally.

His diverse talents have attracted attention from revered artists crossing the boundaries of genre, including legendary vibraphonist Gary Burton, who enlisted Neselovskyi for his acclaimed Generations Quintet; the prestigious Graz Philharmoniker, which performed his composition “Prelude for Vibes” on their New Year’s program; iconoclastic composer/saxophonist John Zorn, who invited Neselovskyi to contribute to The Book Beriah, the final installment of his quarter-century Masada project; and French horn/alphorn pioneer Arkady Shilkloper, a profound influence with whom the pianist now shares a longstanding duo collaboration.

The pianist’s next project will be a recording of his composition Bez Mezh (which, fittingly, means “no limits” in Ukrainian) by the International Symphony Orchestra (INSO) from Lviv, Ukraine. The ambitious work vividly interlaces composition and improvisation, providing both the piano soloist and the 65-piece orchestra with thrilling challenges to navigate.

vadimneselovskyi.com
Vadim Neselovskyi on Instagram