The singer Svetlana Shmulyian is a very engaging improviser in the great tradition of lilting melodies over a swinging background. Happily, she has a new New York City show coming up on June 7. Here’s what I wrote about her first CD release, and — so you can see and hear for yourself — I offer a few videos from 2012 and from 2013.
Her band is called Svetlana and the Delancey Five in honor of its Lower East Side residency, but this gig is at B. B. King’s (with more information on Facebook here) as part of the Blue Note Jazz Festival. Svetlana likes to sing with the best musicians and this gig will feature the remarkable Wycliffe Gordon doing what he does so well. She tells me that the Lucille Room also has a great hardwood dance floor, so you can sit and listen or dance the hours away. Shows are at 7 and 9:30 PM. (Doors open one hour before for each show.)
Michael: Just caught Wycliffe, Adrian Cunningham & Charlie Caranicas at 16-band NY Hot Jazz Fest 6/18. Have you deserted the East Coast for good? John
“Deserted” is so harsh, John . . . I am a temporary California resident who will be back in New York in September 2014 for a limited time only, as they say in television commercials.
Hi Michael,
The links to your 2012 and 2013 videos mentioned above, don’t appear to be working.
I will fix, but until the real thing comes along, just search SVETLANA in the appropriate box. Must run!