Vyacheslav Ganelin
Encyclopedia
Vyacheslav "Slava" Ganelin ' onMouseout='HidePop("36740")' href="/topics/Kraskovo">Kraskovo
near Moscow
) is a Lithuanian Jewish
jazz
musician
and composer
. Primarily a pianist, he also plays other keyboards (organ and synthesizer) as well as bass, guitar, and percussions. He was the leader of the Ganelin Trio, described by critic Chris Kelsey as "arguably the world's greatest free jazz ensemble" of the 1970s and '80s.
, where he learned to play piano in the music school, and later at the Vilnius Conservatory where he graduated in 1968.
In 1961 he debuted as jazz pianist in a concert, after partial cultural liberalization
under the rule of Nikita Khrushchev
.
.
Vyacheslav Ganelin is continuing his solo career, playing with various artists including Petras Vyšniauskas, Arkadiy Gotesman, and Klaus Kugel.
As a composer Ganelin wrote music for movies, including the Devil's Bride
, and worked with many film directors, including Vadim Abdrashitov.
Kraskovo
Kraskovo is an urban locality in Lyuberetsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia. Population: Its elevation is above the sea level...
near Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
) is a Lithuanian Jewish
Lithuanian Jews
Lithuanian Jews or Litvaks are Jews with roots in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania:...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
. Primarily a pianist, he also plays other keyboards (organ and synthesizer) as well as bass, guitar, and percussions. He was the leader of the Ganelin Trio, described by critic Chris Kelsey as "arguably the world's greatest free jazz ensemble" of the 1970s and '80s.
Youth
In 1948 his family moved to LithuaniaLithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
, where he learned to play piano in the music school, and later at the Vilnius Conservatory where he graduated in 1968.
In 1961 he debuted as jazz pianist in a concert, after partial cultural liberalization
Khrushchev Thaw
The Khrushchev Thaw refers to the period from the mid 1950s to the early 1960s, when repression and censorship in the Soviet Union were partially reversed and millions of Soviet political prisoners were released from Gulag labor camps, due to Nikita Khrushchev's policies of de-Stalinization and...
under the rule of Nikita Khrushchev
Nikita Khrushchev
Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev led the Soviet Union during part of the Cold War. He served as First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1953 to 1964, and as Chairman of the Council of Ministers, or Premier, from 1958 to 1964...
.
Career
Together with percussionist and drummer Vladimir Tarasov and saxophonist Vladimir Chekasin he formed the Ganelin Trio in 1970-1971 , which achieved critical acclaim in Soviet Union and abroad. The trio performed together until 1987, when Vyacheslav Ganelin emigrated to IsraelIsrael
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
.
Vyacheslav Ganelin is continuing his solo career, playing with various artists including Petras Vyšniauskas, Arkadiy Gotesman, and Klaus Kugel.
As a composer Ganelin wrote music for movies, including the Devil's Bride
Devil's Bride
Devil's Bride is the first Lithuanian musical created in 1974 and based on the book by Kazys Boruta Baltaragio malūnas . Due to its popularity it is sometimes called a Lithuanian Jesus Christ Superstar rock opera...
, and worked with many film directors, including Vadim Abdrashitov.