ABOUT

The legendary group from St. Petersburg plays an explosive mix of ska and jazz, infused with other genres like funk, soul, R&B, and rocksteady. With over a dozen people on stage and boundless musical energy, the band doesn’t chase trends. Instead, they draw inspiration from the 1940s–1970s—a time when an artist’s popularity was decided by talent and exceptional skill, and music was pure pleasure for both the players and the listeners.

The Russians cite Louis Jordan, James Brown and his J.B.’s, Sonny Rollins, and the legendary Jamaican band The Skatalites among their masters. The repertoire of SPB Ska-Jazz Review consists of reinterpretations of jazz, soul, funk, and ska classics, as well as their own original compositions.   The group’s hallmarks are the virtuosity and energy of the musicians, led by an outstanding horn section.

The group was founded in 2001 by drummer Denis Kupcov and musicians known from the St. Petersburg bands Spitfire and Markscheider Kunst. Although the lineup has undergone many changes over the years, the core idea has remained constant: merging jazz with Jamaican music of the 50s and 60s.

In 2002, the band released their debut album. Shortly after, American vocalist Jennifer Davis joined the group, and the musicians began working on their follow-up, Too Good To Be True. Released in 2004, the album brought the band popularity far beyond their home market.   In Russia, the record was released via “Shnur’OK,” a label owned by Sergey Shnurov (leader of the famous band Leningrad). The album was also released in the U.S. and Western Europe through Megalith Records, an American label specializing in ska. In 2005, the German company Grover Records released the band’s debut album, bringing their first record to Western Europe and supporting it with an extensive tour through Germany and Switzerland.

In 2010, after a few years’ hiatus, the band returned to regular touring. Denis Kupcov decided to invite the entire lineup of Markscheider Kunst to collaborate, finally stabilizing the group’s personnel. In 2012, after an extensive search, a worthy successor to Jennifer Davis was found: the young Russian vocalist Margarita Kasayeva, whose voice enchanted every member of the band.

The musicians are currently working on a new album, preceded by the single “Water Taxi.”: http://stpetersburgskajazzreview.kroogi.com/en/download/2323341-Water-taxi.html

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