Big band Russian big band named after Oleg Lundstrem

[Feodor]

It is the oldest jazz orchestra of Russia. It was founded in 1934 in Harbin (China) by children of employees of the Chinese Eastern Railway. (Chinese Easten Railway was Russian the railway, which took place on the territory of Manchuria and connecting Chita to Vladivostok and Port Arthur. The road is built in 1897-1903, as the southern branch of the TRANS-Siberian railway (de facto). Belonged to Russia and served its citizens.)
Oleg Lundstrem (1916-2005) was chosen as bandleader by a vote.
From 1934 to 1947 worked in China (Shanghai, Qingdao) as dance and concert orchestra.
In 1947 the full orchestra with the families moved to the USSR, Kazan.
But in 1948 the orchestra was disbanded by Soviet authorities.
However, already in 1955 the orchestra recorded the first album with jazz arrangements of Russian folklore.
From that moment began big band concert life in the USSR, which continues today.
(Sorry for my English)
Soviet song "Katusha" (fragment) arranged by Oleg Lundsterm (video from Russian TV) (1994)

"Take the A Train" (fragment-sax section solo) arranged by Nickolay Levinovski (early 90s)

The piece on the theme of the second Concerto by Rachmaninoff (Boris Frumkin) (2002)

 

[kevgermany]

Thanks! Don't worry about your English, it's fine.

Really interesting to hear about things like this, it's been a closed book for all of us.

 

[ProfJames]

Really interesting thank you

 

[Nick Wyver]

Very good! Ta.

 

[AndyWhiteford]

hi Feodor - very interesting. I know arranger / pianist Nick Levinovski from his CD Sphinx / Allegro which features one of my favourite saxophonists and big-band leader, Moscow's Igor Butman. here's Igor & his big band in action:
.