1-2 June 2013, Êyiv – On occasion of International Children’s Day celebration Jazz producer center Jazz in Kiev, Dom Master Class Education and Culture supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) organized 4th International children’s jazz festival "OKeshkin Jazz".
Festival "OKeshkin Jazz" gave a wonderful opportunity for families to spend time together, listen to good music and gather with interesting people. Throughout two festival days young musicians aged 6-14 years old, jazz-bands and a little bluesman performed at the open public theatre. Young performers were supported by the famous Ukrainian bands: Olexander Murenko`s trio "Fusion Band" opened the festival and band "Alibi" performed during the 2nd day of the festival . The host of "Okeshkin Jazz" was Oleksiy Kogan, a well-known journalist and an art director of Jazz in Kiev.
Oleksiy Kogan: "4th festival "Okeshkin Jazz" gives us an incredible opportunity to discover the future of the Ukrainian music, and not only Ukrainian. Every time I come to this festival I realize the meaning of somebody`s phrase: "Children are not like adults, but they are like we, adults, should be."
Soloist of the band "Alibi" Anna Zavalska: "The taste for good music should be shaped from childhood! Considering my own experience, we can confirm that there is no bigger incentive for self-development and education than admiring somebody’s talent, your peer in particular! Thus, existence of children’s jazz festivals is the grandest contribution to the future of the young musicians’, whom we always support with pleasure."
Music unites everybody: children from ordinary families, vulnerable children – orphans, refugees and children with disabilities. All these children have equal rights to develop their personalities and talents and to be educated. Jazz festival “Okeshkin Jazz” has introduced the beauty of music to children who probably have heard jazz for the first time in their life.
Yukie Mokuo, Representative of UNICEF in Ukraine: "Jazz is a great example for children, as in jazz each musician improvises in his/her own way and at the same time everybody is playing in one band creating an amazing music dialogue. It is similar to children as every child has a right to express herself / himself individually while being in harmony with society and other children."
In jazz in particular there are a plenty of musicians with disabilities. One of them was Michel Petrucciani, world known jazz performer, who was literally carried on arms. Not just because he was a genius pianist, but also because he almost couldn’t walk due to an appalling illness. Michel found his strength for life in jazz, granting joy to others. Now music therapy for children with disabilities is widely known.
Within the festival’s program little guests together with their parents participated in handcraft master classes, which were prepared and held by organizer of the festival Dom Master Class Education and Culture. In particular, they created handmade musical instruments using different materials. The youngest guests form age of 2 years enjoyed interesting interactive games and pottery workshops.
Tetyana Zhmendyak and Illya Boondarenko, young violinists, participants of the festival: "Okeshkin Jazz" is the chance for us to meet new musicians, to play on one stage once again with Nataliya Lebedeva’s trio, whom we admire very much and, besides that, to listen to funny jokes of Oleksiy Kogan, the host of the festival. And, for sure, it is the ocean of emotions and excellent mood!"
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) cooperates on global level with the most famous musicians of various music styles. They are UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors: Lenny Kravitz, Shakira, winner of Grammy Award, violinist and conductor Maxim Vengerov, African jazz singer Angelique Kidjo, Chinese pianist Lang Lang, Finnish jazzman Iiro Rantala and many others.
Festival "Okeshkin Jazz" is another step towards strengthening the Ukrainian jazz community. It is an opportunity to popularize and develop jazz culture in our country.
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About Jazz in Kiev: Producer’s centre Jazz in Kiev is the biggest jazz agency in the Ukrainian capital that has been working since 2007. Oleksiy Kogan, a well-known radio broadcasting journalist and producer, is the art director of the centre. During its existence company has organized a series of jazz concerts with participation of celebrated jazzmen Eric Marienthal, Bill Evans, Bobby McFerrin, Vijay Ayer, Steven Bernstein and may others. Also it has held 5 International festivals Jazz in Kiev where such stars, as, in particular, Dave Holland, Avishai Cohen, Al Gerro, Mike Stern, Herbie Hancock, Steve Gadd, Kenny Werner, Lars Danielsson, Hiromi, bands Spyro Gyra, Yellowjackets and Oregon performed.
About UNICEF: The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is the world leader in protection of children’s rights and interests. UNICEF works in more than 190 countries for protection and support of children from early childhood through adolescence. Programs of UNICEF are entirely financed by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.
(photo: Alexander Zubko)