Project “Up Above Moscow”, program Rooftop Jazz

Moscow Department of Culture

Manege Association

Krugly Band Quartet. “The Four Quarters of the Way”. Poetry and Jazz performance dedicated to Vladimir Vysotsky

“Up Above Moscow” is a cycle of music nights at a venue offering unique views of Moscow. In warm seasons, the performances are staged on the rooftop of the Worker and Kolkhoz Woman pavilion, at the footing of the iconic 24-meter sculpture, a world-renowned symbol of the Soviet Union. At all other times and depending on the weather conditions, the concerts are held on the fourth floor with admission to the rooftop during the break.

Music nights at the Worker and Kolkhoz Woman are conducted in two formats, with ‘Rooftop Jazz’ performances on Wednesdays and ‘Electronic Thursdays’ given to electronic musicians and sound designers. The organizer of the project is the Manege Association.

Program “Rooftop Jazz”

Krugly Band Quartet. “The Four Quarters of the Way”. Poetry and Jazz performance dedicated to Vladimir Vysotsky

20.00 – arrival of guests; 20.15 – performance

The famous Moscow-based ensemble, the Krugly Band, will stage a literary and musical performance based on Valdimir Vysotsky’s poetry and music. The arranger and director of the show is Alexey Kruglov, a sax player, composer, the winner of landmark national and international competitions, and one of the brightest figures in improvisational music in Russia with a strong commitment to experimenting and engaging in interdisciplinary projects involving the cinema, theatre, contemporary art and literature.

The literary and musical direction has played a special role in the repertoire of the Krugly Band as a unique space where word and sound converge into a single line knitting together the poetic and improvisational principles. Over the years of its existence, the band has staged projects based on the poetry of Vladimir Mayakovsky, Sergey Esenin, Mikhail Lermontov and many other Russian poets.

Performance called “The Four Quarters of the Way” will portray the life and work of Vladimir Vysotsky. Every “quarter” will represent the poet’s ideas, paving the way from the early works to more mature, almost philosophic pieces. The background story is set by the major developments of the Russian history. The first “quarter” is dedicated to humorous subjects and the wartime block, the second one focuses on love lyrics and personal attitudes, and the third and fourth parts will lay out the poet’s philosophy with inclusions of some more upbeat songs.

Starring in the performance will be the father and son Kruglovs. Music by Vladimir Vysotsky including his songs Pesnya o druge (Song about a Friend), Ballada o lyubvi (The Ballad of Love), Gornoe echo (Mountain Echo) and many others will be performed in original improvisational arrangements of Alexey Kruglov. The main musical theme of the performance is Vysotsky’s tune Kupola (The Domes).

Lineup:

Alexey Kruglov — vocals, saxophone, grand piano
Vladimir Kruglov — vocals, grand piano, guitar
Denis Shushkov — double bass, vocals
Pyotr Ivshin — drums, percussion, vocals

Tickets are available in the box offices of the Worker and Kolkhoz Woman Center and online at voxxter.ru and the website of MEA Manege. The ticket price of 300 rubles includes admission to exhibitions on the day of the performance.

Media accreditation:
Manege Association | +7 (495) 645 92 76 | pr.manege@gmail.com

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