One dark, late autumn afternoon in 1982, I found myself in the Мелодия (Melodiya) record shop on Kalininski Prospekt. Long winding queues were filling up most of the space on the ground floor; the shop assistants were shouting to the cashiers to stop accepting payments for a certain item*. This item turned out to be David Tukhmanov’s latest album, Н.Л.О. (UFO). So it wasn’t meant to be, at least this time.
Undeterred by this setback, I headed to another section of the shop. And there it was, this LP of a band I never heard about, with a not particularly original name «Аллегро» (Allegro). Curiously enough, the English title, In This World, was taking a greater area of the sleeve than its Russian version, «В этом мире». The liner notes by Alexei Batashev (Алексей Баташёв)†, as always, were over the top; they still make me laugh in embarrassment:
Здесь и «хамелеоновское остинато» Хэнкока, и «апокалиптические скрипки» Махавишну, и инструментальные песни Гарбарека, и витиеватые унисоны Кориа, а то и какой-нибудь «сарказм» с прокофьевской чертовщинкой.
Here are “chameleonic ostinato” of Hancock as well as “apocalyptic violins” of Mahavishnu, instrumental songs of Garbarek, ornate unisons of Corea, and even some sort of “sarcasm” with Prokofiev’s devilry.
Needless to say, I couldn’t wait to get back home to listen to my new purchase — and it didn’t disappoint. The music was unlike anything I heard before. Besides, it was not that common for a jazz composition to take a whole side of a vinyl. It had grown to be one of my favourite albums of Soviet jazz and, without being acquainted with any work of the aforementioned Western musicians, one of my favourite jazz-rock records, ever. Also, the bass playing by Viktor Dvoskin became a true inspiration for me. Not that I’ve progressed much during the last 40 years, but still.
Listening to it now, I can hear the influences of all the artists listed by Batashev and more — but also, with more clarity, Allegro’s own unique sound. I’d love to have In This World on CD but it doesn’t look that it even exists.
In memory of Yuri Genbachev (12.10.1941 — 31.12.2017) and Alexei Batashev (7.09.1934 — 14.05.2021).
| В этом мире | In This World |
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| Джаз-ансамбль «Аллегро» | Allegro Jazz Ensemble |
Сергей Гурбелошвили, саксофоны Виктор Двоскин, контрабас Юрий Генбачёв, ударные Виктор Епанешников, барабаны |
Sergey Gurbeloshvili: saxophones Viktor Dvoskin: double bass Yuri Genbachev: percussion Viktor Yepaneshnikov: drums |
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| * | For those unfamiliar with the Soviet-time triple queuing system: the first queue, to the counter to order the goods; then to the cashier’s desk to pay; the final one back to the counter to collect your purchase. |
| † | A couple of years later, I’d see Alexei Nikolaevich himself introducing the very Allegro, albeit with a different line-up, in a concert. Back then it would be difficult to go to any jazz performance in Moscow that would not be presented by him. |
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