- Year of foundation – 2008
- Genre – jazz cabaret
Team composition:
- Anastasia Malega (vocals);
- Anastasia (Steisha) Gudz (tenor saxophone);
- Iryna Kravchenko (alto saxophone);
- Olexandra “Sanny” Zhurba (vocals);
- Sofia Pavlichenko (vocals);
- Iryna Zhilina (keyboards);
- Vira Pogurska (alto saxophone, soprano saxophone);
- Svitlana Shkil (trumpet);
- Svitlana Maiger (bass guitar);
- Anna Bird (drums);
History of creation
Freedom Jazz is a Ukrainian musical group consisting of ten members. The group was founded in 2008 by the famous director and producer of television projects Olena Kolyadenko. Initially, Olena planned to create a vocal trio like the Andrews Sisters or the Puppini Sisters. The inspiration for the retro group was the cult film "Only Girls in Jazz". The name of the group comes from the dance group Freedom, created by Kolyadenko back in 2002.
Creative path
In 2008–2011, the jazz girls took part in the numbers of the participants of the talent show "Star Factory". In 2011, the band tried their hand at the project “Show No. 1” on the Inter TV channel, the winner of which had a chance to perform in the final of the national selection for Eurovision 2012. In one of the final episodes, Freedom Jazz had to leave the show - the jury preferred another band, noting that the jazz girls were already so professional that they had nowhere to develop further in this format.
Since 2012, the band has regularly performed on the humorous program “Kyiv Vechirnaya” of the Kvartal 95 studio. On February 16, 2019, Freedom Jazz took part in the second semi-final of the national selection for Eurovision with their original song Cupidon. Having received high marks from the judges and viewers, the artists advanced to the final, where they took second place.
Band Style
The unique style of Freedom Jazz is a jazz cabaret, which combines jazz music, dance and theatrical elements. The band gained recognition and popularity among music fans thanks to the performance of covers of famous hits, as well as original compositions. A striking feature of the band's live performances is the harmony of vocal parts (triad).
Social activity
Even during a full-scale war, the jazz girls continue to create new programs, performing for Ukrainians and expressing support for all who defend the country.
Each concert for the participants and the audience is an anti-stress and medicine for the soul. Going on stage, the artists feel that they are needed by the people who come to their performances for energy, inspiration and joy. The moments when the band members meet acquaintances and admirers from past concerts among the fans are especially valuable. Today, every performance of the band is a sold-out show, and the energy of the stage is instantly transmitted to the audience.
Discography
The band's repertoire includes the singles "Parasolya", Ladies Gonna Dance, Cupidon and other works.
Band programs
Among the concert programs from the Freedom Jazz repertoire, the most popular are:
- SAX LIVE SHOW "Pif-Paf" is a bold and energetic show, in which the participants of Freedom Jazz transform into the style of "Bond girls". The theatrical presentation combines jazz, charisma, dance, live music, vocals, bright show numbers, provocative charm and interaction with the audience;
- FREEDOM JAZZ CABARET is a cabaret format, where jazz, dance and theatricality are intertwined into one whole. The program includes fragments of famous world musicals, mini-performances with female humor, exquisite sound and world dance hits. All this is in the unique style of Freedom Jazz;
- New Year Show is a festive music and dance performance created for the New Year's mood. The format resembles a cabaret show: musicals, mini-performances, choreography, bright performances and the atmosphere of a real holiday.
Interesting facts about the band:
- the favorite performer of the Freedom Jazz members is Stromae;
- in August 2018, the artists performed in Monaco for the guests of the UEFA Champions League;
- at the band's concerts, stars such as Seal, Rico Sanchez and Yuriy Tkach could not resist dancing;
- unusual situations occurred on stage: Olena the saxophonist came out on crutches, Svetlana the bassist forgot her instrument, Sophie's skirt tore, Anastasia's noodles stuck together during a gastronomic performance, and once they brought gin to the stage instead of champagne;
- the band has a tuning fork person (this is what her colleagues call Svetlana Shkyl).
