Gig Review: Jazz Concert in Support of Ukraine, Reading Minster, Friday 14th June

Jazz Concert in Support of Ukraine

Reading Minster Friday 14^th June 2024

Ukraine Solidarity Jazz Band: Katrina Likhtman, Fleur Stevenson, Steve Foster (vocals), Robert Otwinowski (guitar), Matt Potts (piano), Steve Kershaw (bass) and Ben Robins (drums) with special guest Kyrill Avilov (alto sax).

Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain

In bold defiance of President Putin’s latest ‘peace’ offering, the Ukraine Solidarity Jazz Band kept the indomitable flame of Ukrainian freedom burning brightly in their Jazz Concert in Support of Ukraine, held in the tranquil surroundings of Reading Minster on Friday 14 June.

The brainchild of locally based vocalist Katrina Likhtman, who assembled the USJB from like-minded musicians active in the Thames Valley, this unique musical package has already performed to acclaim in Sheffield and Wallingford. Future venues will include Oxford and a much-anticipated appearance in Brighton with poll-winning vocalist Claire Martin as guest artist.

                                            Katrina Likhtman

A moving introduction, delivered in both Ukrainian and English, by Yuliia Sytnyk, a member of AUGB (Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain), welcomed the audience to the Minster. The purpose of the concert she explained, was to raise funds for much needed humanitarian support for the people of Ukraine, to ensure that their fight for freedom was not forgotten by the wider world and to deliver a message of peace and unity through the joyous medium of jazz.

Messrs Otwinowski, Potts, Kershaw and Robins set the pace for the evening with a swinging arrangement of ‘Too Close for Comfort’. Matt Potts clearly revelled in the opportunity to play an excellent baby-grand piano, which gave a full voice to his inventive playing and filled the highest vaults of the Minster with its glorious sound.

       Matt Potts

By comparison, Katrina with her light tones and crystal-clear diction, brought a mischievious charm to ‘C’est Si Bon’ (It’s So Good), once a hit song for the great Eartha Kitt. ‘People’ will be forever associated with Barbra Streisand, but on this occasion, Katrina made the song entirely her own, imbuing the lyrics with a special feeling, supported by the sensitive accompaniment of the instrumentalists. Steve Kershaw contributed an especially fine bass solo.

Katrina took great pleasure in introducing the evening’s ‘special’ guest; a young man, she explained, who had left Ukraine with little more than his mobile-phone and his treasured alto saxophone. He had finished his GCSE exams only that morning and was now ready to play his part in the concert.

Kyrill Avilov will be a name to remember. He thrilled the audience with his flawless rendition of Irving Berlin’s ‘Cheek to Cheek’ conjuring images of Fred Astaire gliding across the dance floor with Ginger Rogers and the more recent vocal partnership of Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett.

Next, firm favourite Fleur Stevenson brought her inspirational qualities to the stage to deliver two classic standards, ‘Let’s Fall in Love’ and ‘The Nearness of You’, in impeccable style.

                                            Fleur Stevenson

Swapping his role as ‘house photographer’ for that of solo vocal-artist, Steve Foster brought a distinct change of mood with ‘Buddy Can You Spare Dime’. A potent combination Steve’s voice/harmonica and a plaintive bass solo by Steve Kershaw captured the full emotional depth of this anthem of the Great Depression. Steve completed his first set in more uplifting spirits with ‘It Had To Be You’.

       Steve Kershaw

As the interval and the promise of refreshments in Ukrainian style beckoned, Katrina and Fleur joined Steve to ride out the first set in party mood with ‘It Don’t Mean a Thing If it Ain’t Got That Swing’.

The warm tones of Robert Otwinsowski’s guitar, which had been such an enjoyable feature of the first set, opened the second set with ‘A Ballad of All Saints’, a beguiling original by Robert himself.

                                Robert Otwinowski

Fleur Stevenson’s remarkable versatility was well to the fore on her second appearance with a seamless switch from the gentle breeze of Antonio Carlos Jobin’s delightful bossa-nova, ‘Dindi’ to the passionate emotion of ‘At Last’ She was well supported by the excellent rhythm section.

Rapturous applause greeted Kyril Avilov’s return to the stage. Given Katrina‘s stunning evening attire, how could he have chosen anything else for his second piece than ‘The Lady in Red’? The performance captured all the magic of Chris de Burgh’s 1986 hit song and earned Kyril a hug of congratulation from Matt Potts. We wish Kyrill every success with his GCSE exams and future career as a saxophonist.

                                Kyril Avilov

Steve Foster chose two of Nat King Cole’s most memorable songs for his second set. Having expressed the mystic qualities of ‘Nature Boy’ he set himself up in the driving seat of a classic Buick, placed his foot firmly on the accelerator and set off to traverse ‘Route 66’, powered by the drums of Ben Robins working on all cylinders.  Great fun!

Katrina brought the concert to a fitting close with two songs from her homeland; ‘Cheremshina (Bird Cherry Tree Blossom)’, a slow, beautifully expressed love song followed by the jaunty ‘Oi, Chorna Ya, Sy Chorna (O, Smarthy, Smarthy), which set heads nodding, feet stamping and hands clapping.

No jazz concert is complete without an encore and the Jazz Concert in Support of Ukraine could not be an exception. The entire ensemble assembled once more on stage to lift the roof with a final jam to ‘Pennies From Heaven’ and’ Bye Bye Blackbird’.

The Jazz Concert In Support of Ukraine succeeded magnificently in all its aims. The Ukraine Solidarity Jazz Band, the AUGB and Reading Minster are to be congratulated on their initiative, an opportunity ‘to stand with Ukraine, the country fighting for the freedom of its people and the wider democratic world’.

Proceeds from ticket and refreshment sales, plus individual donations, raised a magnificent sum in excess of £1.500. You may like to add your support via https://www.gofundme.com/f/Jazz-concert-fundraiser-for-Ukraine

I will leave the final word to Katrina LIkhtman, ‘It is a great honour to play and sing with these fantastic musicians who make these concerts possible. I am in awe of their generosity and loving spirit.’ Here, here!