Opinions & Interviews
U.S. musicians are fascinated with Belarus! The things that captivated them and what does Mulyavin have to do with it?
The other day U.S. musicians performed the most popular songs by Louis Armstrong at the Belarusian State Philharmonic. Minsk was the final destination on the famous Ark Ovrutski Quartet's tour. Jazz lovers were impressed by the new sound of the famous tunes ans also by the warm regard the guests from New York had for Belarus. Our journalist talked to them right after the concert. In an exclusive interview with BelTA and the 7 Days newspaper, the musicians discussed the Mulyavin phenomenon, the beauty of Minsk, and an act for which they are grateful to the Belarusian Embassy in Washington.
‘Since we've been here everyone's all smiles’
BelTA’s journalist had the opportunity to meet the musicians right after the concert. Dozens of fans were waiting for the jazz band in the foyer, so the conversation was brief, but very heartfelt and sincere. And it began... with a smile!
“You're smiling right now!" Vincent Gross, the vocalist and trumpeter from Baltimore, said to our journalist. Smiling, he continued: "Actually, since we've been here everyone's all smiles like you. Beautiful!"
‘AI will never be able to replace live music’
When your favorite songs are performed on stage, it’s only natural to wonder how live concerts will look like in the future. Artificial intelligence, already a presence at forums and conferences, can now write poetry, compose music, and create videos. But can it replace a jazz musician or the energy of a real live performance? Our interviewee is certain it cannot. The reason, he believes, lies in human emotion.
“We do not use artificial intelligence in our work,” Vincent Gross said categorically. “I won’t deny that the current generation is fascinated by AI, and yes, it can create beautiful music. But that’s not the point. Artificial intelligence will never be able to replace what has happened here tonight; it cannot replace live music or genuine emotion.”
The fundamental difference is one of origin: artificial intelligence operates as programmed, while musicians play as their feelings dictate. And no matter how far technology advances, AI will never possess the same sense of the world that a live artist brings to the stage.
‘There's not just one color to describe the beauty of Minsk’
One of the Louis Armstrong songs the artists performed on stage was Autumn Leaves. It perfectly described the scene the musicians witnessed in Minsk. This led to the inevitable question: how would they remember the Belarusian capital - as it was depicted in that composition, or differently?
“Emotionally, wonderful world ties Minsk. It's just part of the world and it's beautiful,” Vincent Gross admitted. “It's a beautiful city with many shades. It's green, it's yellow - all at once! Emotionally exciting, energetic movement and beautiful colors. There's not just one color to describe your place of beauty. No tone.”
This wasn't Vincent Gross's first time in Minsk. He had already appreciated the picturesqueness of the Belarusian capital back in February when he also performed at the Belarusian State Philharmonic. His colleague, however, drummer Gabe Jones from Washington, was seeing Belarus for the first time, and he confessed he felt a genuine sense of awe.
“I brought my friend with me from America and as we spoke last night, the only thing he kept saying is: ‘Wow’. When you get that as an expression, I think that says it all. Wow,” Vincent Gross said with a smile.
Gabe Jones is a talented but still rather young artist. He only recently turned 22. That’s why, before coming to Belarus, he knew absolutely nothing about the country.“But honestly, it’s a very beautiful country,” he said. “I can’t even put into words how wonderful it is. It was a fantastic journey. As we traveled from one place to another, we saw beautiful sculptures and architecture everywhere. You know, everything was picturesque and vibrant.”
'We’ve eaten borscht. It was very good!'
When visiting Belarus, foreign guests are always impressed by its unique cuisine. Draniki, dumplings and borscht are some of the most popular dishes that almost every foreigner tries. And what have the U.S. musicians already had a chance to enjoy? The question brought smiles to their faces.
“Just yesterday we ate a dish made from Belarusian potatoes,” the musicians admitted. “We also tried rice, fish, and certainly, borscht. It was very good!”
“The Belarusian Embassy in Washington did everything to make the concert happen”
Today, bilateral relations between Belarus and the United States are being restored. The concert of jazz performers from New York is vivid proof of that. In a conversation with a BelTA journalist, the artists expressed hope that their performance will only strengthen cooperation between the two countries.
“We hope to contribute to this, and that our concert will make its own modest contribution to the restoration of normal relations between our countries. People should communicate, interact, and live in peace. That is why we are performing,” they said. “The Belarusian embassy in Washington has been actively supportive. We must give them credit, as they did everything to make our concert happen. We are immensely grateful to them for that.”
“So, are you ready to return to Belarus?”
“Absolutely!” the artists said smiling. “We are definitely planning to return to Belarus!” The American musicians themselves brought up Vladimir Mulyavin. Ark Ovrutski admitted that in music circles, the people’s artist of Belarus and the Soviet Union is considered something extraordinary. “His ‘Zavushnitsy’ is a piece everyone in the world must hear!” the U.S. musician believes. When our journalist suggested they perform ‘Zavushnitsy,’ Ark Ovrutski hinted that even that might be possible one day – and in a jazz arrangement.
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