Soft Emotions

What is acid jazz of the Soft Emotions band? It is a combination of soft, easy emotions and a powerful, tough sound of the band; fashionable rhythmic textures and traditions of the jazz mainstream; original harmonic sequences and blues stops; strict arrangements and freestyle improvisations.

The Soft Emotions project was created in January 1997 in St.Petersburg by the talented jazz saxophonist Sergey Verentsov with the support of one of the most famous jazzmen in Russia, the pianist Andrey Kondakov, especially for performances in JFC Jazz Club (the most convenient place in the city for acid jazz music at that time).

Most of the compositions performed by Soft Emotions are written by Sergey Verentsov, excluding a few themes written by Andrey Kondakov. Sometimes one can hear jazz standards in the original band arrangement.

One of the main ideas of the project is the participation of brilliant jazz soloists. Therefore, the basis of Soft Emotions (except Sergey Verentsov and Andrey Kondakov) is formed by the famous Petersburg jazzmen: Alexander Berenson (trumpet), Alexey Degoussarov (guitar). Besides, Alexey Nikonov (keyboards), Sergey Grigorev (keyboards), Alexander Mashin, Vladimir Toonik, Alexander Staroselsky, Arthur Gazarov, Gary Bagdasaryan (percussion), Kirill Ilatov (percussion), Sergey Berezovoi, Igor Klementiev, Boris Mazhorov, Oleg Tarkhov (bass guitar), Alexey Popov (sax), Ruslan Isakov (sax), Sergey Tarusin (keyboards).

The band released their eponymous debut in March 2001 at the Petromix studio in a limited quantity.

english text
by Yaroslav Senshin