Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s “The Seasons” in jazz variations

The Christmas mood, riding in a sleigh, the flourishing of nature, the harvest, birdsong, scenes from the hunt, a starry spring night and a carnival full of surprises – those are just a few of the scenes that the Russian romanticist Peter Tchaikovsky painted in sounds in his The Seasons.  This opus is full of diverse images and vivid contrasts, and it is well known among all young pianists.  Over the course of time, there have been various transpositions and arrangements of the opus.  Andrejs Puškarevs, Reinis Ozoliņš and Kaspars Kurdeko are the Vibe Trio, and they are offering a new jazzy sound for this masterpiece of piano music, also taking us through changes in seasons and moods during the various seasons of the year.  

This trio appeared on the Latvian musical scene late last year with the concert programme Our Favourite Things, which was performed at the studio of Radio Latvia and live on its “Classic” programme.  The initiator of the trio is the Ukrainian percussionist Andrejs Puškarevs, who has long since been a member of the Kremerata Baltica chamber orchestra.  He is also known as a composer and outstanding arranger.  For many years back in Kyiv Andrejs thought about a classical jazz trio in which the piano would be replaced by the vibraphone.  Last year he found fantastic Latvian jazz musicians, and Tchaikovsky’s The Seasons sparkled in the trio’s first concert.  This time, however, the musicians are presenting all 12 movements of the cycle, which Tchaikovsky composed at the suggestion of the editor of the Nouvellist music magazine in St Petersburg – publish a piano composition for people who play the piano at home once a month for a whole year.  The first miniature was published in the magazine in its January issue in 1846, and the last one was released in December – exactly 140 years ago!

Programme

Tchaikovsky’s “The Seasons,” jazz arrangement by Andrei Pushkarev

Participants

Andrei Pushkarev, vibraphone
Reinis Ozoliņš, double bass
Kaspars Kurdeko, percussion