One Night in Moscow… – The Sta_Sera Duo In Concert The CD is an enjoyable and entertaining concert by one of America’s most popular and “in-demand” duos. Both Stas and John play very well on this recording! The music is a mélange of old and new music. The arrangements of the duo pieces feature each player in the best possible manner and blend the two parts seemingly without effort. The two players compliment each other very well both musically and in temperament, just as they do in their live performances where their separate personalities are allowed to shine. John Simkus is a fine player of truly American jazz. He nevers lets the improvisation get in the way of the original melody lines. His playing shows great attention to phrasing, good clean technique on the many runs and is always in good taste. The tunes, both innately of the past generation, give him the opportunity to show his own best style of playing, one that will most certainly be appreciated by all his listeners. John has enjoyed great success for many years with his own and other’s jazz groups in the Chicago area but, even with all those years, his accordion playing just keeps getting better and better. Stas Venglevski comes from a different mold of player and of a different generation. He displays fine technique at all times and uses it to great advantage throughout the recording. This CD features several of his own compositions, too, proving once again that he knows how to write that beautifully simple melody and then embellish it for the enjoyment of his audience. One cannot help but smile upon hearing his original pieces. Stas is an example of the many successful graduates of the Russian Academy of Music under the tutelege of Friedrich Lips. He is terrifically talented in playing both the more serious repertoire of the Russian bayan as well as that music which exemplifies entertainment. You will like this CD. It is truly enjoyable to hear. There are some wonderful pieces, some of which are re-recordings of music performed by Stas and John as part of the “USA on Stage” program at the International Bayan and Bayanists Festival held at the Academy of Music Gnessin in Moscow, Russia on December 17, 2005. (As an aside, I will say I had the privilege of hearing this live performance and can tell you the standing-room-only audience gave them a deserving ovation!) The recording is dedicated to their friend, Maestro Anthony Galla-Rini, who passed away at the age of 102 ½ years in July of 2006. Reviewed by Joan Cochran Sommers, March 2007 |
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