This summer, Kyiv offers plenty of options to enjoy jazz outdoors. And for those willing to escape the capital, there is a jazz festival on the Black Sea shore.
Botanica Jazz
Gryshko National Botanic Garden invites to enjoy a series of jazz shows by Ukrainian Old Fashioned Band. The band is known not only in Ukraine, but also in Poland, Austria, and Germany.
During the first show, the band will perform the songs from the repertoire of the American gospel singer and songwriter Aretha Franklin, American soul singers Sam Cooke, James Brown, Ray Charles, and Aaron Neville.
In the next show, the Old Fashioned Band will play music by Ray Charles. Combining blues, rhythm-blues and gospel, this singer, songwriter, and composer has recorded about 70 studio and concert albums and is considered to be a pioneer of the soul music.
The third jazz night in the garden will feature songs by Frank Sinatra, Nathan King Cole, and Dean Martin.
Gryshko National Botanic Garden (1 Tymiriazevska St.)
Botanica Jazz — The Best of Soul. July 29. 8 p.m. Hr 350-450.
Botanica Jazz — Ray Charles. Aug. 4. 8 p.m. Hr 250-400.
Botanica Jazz — Love Songs. Aug. 11. 8 p.m. Hr 350-450.
Musicians perform jazz at Gryshko National Botanic Garden in Kyiv. (Svitlo Concert) (0969511989)
Jazz at Mystetskyi Arsenal
The Summer Stage of Mystetskyi Arsenal is going to be another venue hosting Ukrainian and international jazz stars in early August.
At the first show in Mystetskyi Arsenal, the Jazz in Kyiv Band will play Latin American and classical rhythms, adding some soul and funk. Ukrainian jazz singer Laura Marti will join the quintet for the show.
Later, a British singer Zoe Gilby, a jazz band soloist, will perform at the Arsenal stage. The singer’s first album “Now That I’m Real” (2007) was popular in Spain, UK, Australia, U.S., Belgium, France, and Northern Ireland.
American gospel singer Ingrid Arthur will also perform in Kyiv. During her career, she has performed as a back vocalist with Aretha Franklin, Mavis Staples, Mahalia Jackson, Dorothy Norwood, as well as award-winning Shirley Caesar, and Cissy Houston.
Mystetskyi Arsenal (12 Lavrska St., Summer Stage).
Jazz in Kyiv Band & Laura Marti. Aug. 3. 8 p.m. Hr 350-450.
Zoe Gilby Band. Aug. 5. 8 p.m. Hr 350-450.
Ingrid Arthur Band. Aug. 12. 8 p.m. Hr 350-450.
Jazz on the Roof
Ukraine’s Ruslan Yegorov’s Band will play jazz on the roof of the TsUM shopping mall in Kyiv. The quartet performs classical music as well as their own. The band released their album “Once in Chestnut Town” in 2017.
Jazz on the Roof. TsUM department store (38 Khreshchatyk St.). Aug. 4. 7 p.m. Hr 450.
Jazz at the Terrace
The picturesque terrace of Vsi Svoi store will turn into a jazz stage, where Old Fashioned Band will perform hits by Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald.
Jazz at the Terrace — Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald. Vsi Svoi (12 Desiatynna St.). Aug. 15. 8 p.m. Hr 200-400.
Koktebel Jazz Festival
This year, one of Ukraine’s main jazz festivals International Koktebel Jazz Festival will take place in Chornomorsk, a seashore city in Odesa Oblast. The festival that until 2014 used to take place in Koktebel in Crimea will open with a day of Ukrainian music, featuring Onuka, NAONI orchestra, Oleh Skrypka, and Dakh Daughters.
The British music band Morcheeba, Jamaican reggae band Inner Circle, and Swedish electronic jazz band Koop Oscar Orchestra will be among the foreign stars on the line-up. Ukrainian jazz singer Laura Marti will be one of the festival’s headliners, presenting her new album “Shine.”
The Jazz Cafe stage will host the shows by the Kyiv Tango Project band, and the Norway-Ukrainian duet of Frode Barth and Denys Kinchev.
Except for the shows, the festival’s program includes movie screenings and art exhibitions.
International Music Festival Koktebel Jazz Festival. Chornomorsk, Odesa Oblast. Reсreation base Chaika (5 Pliazhna St.) Aug. 16—19. One-day pass – Hr 145-545, four-day pass – Hr 1,290, camping tickets from Hr 485.
