Vladimir Shafranov Trio (AX)

Åland Sea Jazz Festival program opens on Thursday evening with piano jazz performed by the internationally acclaimed master pianist Vladimir “Vova” Shafranov and his trio. Renowned for his brilliant technique, boundless improvisational imagination and uncompromising artistry, Shafranov has established himself as one of the most distinctive voices in jazz.

His career has taken him from Finland to the legendary jazz clubs of New York in the 1980s and 1990s, where he spent more than a decade performing alongside artists such as Ron Carter, Art Farmer, Stan Getz, Chet Baker and Dizzy Gillespie. He was also a regular performer at the renowned Bradley’s jazz club.

Åland has been his home since the late 1990s, while in recent years he has built a devoted following in Japan through extensive touring and recording. Audiences can expect dazzling improvisation, fearless creativity and the commanding presence of a true jazz master.