New Release Spotlight Featuring: Konstantin Klashtorni

CD Title: Downtown

Year: 2004

Record Label: Nightstage Records

Style: Contemporary Jazz

Musicians: Konstantin Klashtorni-alto and tenor saxophones, keys, programming.

Tracks: Downtown, Waiting for you, Easy moving, Lullaby, Sunday, Too much to be truth, Funky story, Morning song, Back to the sunny place, Wild fellow, Octopus.

Artist's Website: http://www.konstantinklashtorni.com

Read Review(s): Featured at Smoothjazz.com / Featured at Smoothjazzandmore

Listen to track(s): Downtown / Waiting for you / Sunday

Purchase CD: At Amazon.com or At Cdbaby.com

Biography: Konstantin Klashtorni's name did not make a sudden appearance in the music world. Years of study preceded the current release "Downtown": not only at music college in Kiev (Ukraine) and two Conservatories in The Netherlands, but a period of almost 20 years of performing and recording experience. His smooth jazz conception is evolved from the years of touring with bands and famous artists. Naturally gifted with outstanding melodic approach, Konstantin can express his abilities in short but easy to remember solos. The recent release can help listeners better discover this artist, although it does not express his complete range. Not without reason "Downtown" is called the "feeling good CD". Catchy melodies, clean performance, and bright energy - those are the main features of Konstantinýs music.

Konstantin Klashtorni was born in Ukraine.

Education: Music school (clarinet), Kiev State Music College (jazz saxophone) in Ukraine, Rotterdam Conservatory and Royal Conservatory (Master degree) in Den Haag, Holland.

After the graduation from the college he had been working with Peter Pashkov's "Vuyko Band" exploring new styles such as hard bop, cool jazz, etc. As a member of this band Konstantin took part in "Jazz-Rock Jamboree" festival in Budapest, Hungary in 1991.

Before moving to Venezuela he had been recording for the most famous ukrainian singer Taisia Povaliy as well as for other artists, radio and TV in Ukraine.

In Venezuela Konstantin experienced new for him latin american music styles and by adopting them, enriched his personal style.

From 1995 to 2000 Konstantin had been working with different bands in Venezuela. The artists he worked with: Soledad Bravo, Biella Da Costa, Ilan Chester, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Franco De Vita, Cheo Feliciano, Oscar D'Leon, "Papo" Rivera, Miguel Rios, Maria Vidal, Maria Rivas and others. Also he had been a part of numerous music projects where such a big names as Dionne Warwick and Eric Marienthal performed.

As a part of Biella Da Costa band Konstantin played on Montreaux Jazz Festival in Switzerland in 1996.

He had been recording a lot during that time as well, especially for the TV. Jasmil Maruffo, Julio Mendoza, Maria Rivas, Nancy Toro,"Guaco" are among those artists he recorded with.

In 2000 Konstantin moves to Europe.

Here, in Holland, he developed new connections with European musicians, among which Roy Louis, Jan van den Boomen, Gerardo Rosales, Izaline Calister, Randal Corsen, Michael Simon, Fra-Fra big band, Cubop city big band, Inter Music Holland ("Respect").

Konstantin toured Bulgaria, Hungary, Venezuela, Colombia, Argentina, Aruba, Curacao, Bon Aire, Spain, Portugal, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Switzerland.

The new smooth jazz album "Downtown" was just realesed in january 2004.

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