The first-ever Ukrainian artist on the legendary jazz label Blue Note. Double CD album releases 8 August 2026.
Blue Note Records — the world's most renowned jazz label — announced on 14 January 2026 a joint duo album 'Two Trumpets' by Dennis Adu (Ukraine) and Keyon Harrold (USA). The album, releasing on 8 August 2026 in double CD format, became the first-ever live Ukrainian jazz performer on the legendary Blue Note label (previously only Americans, Europeans, Asians were there). Album producer — Don Was, active Blue Note management participant since 2012. Recording took place at Capitol Studios in Los Angeles from November 2025 to January 2026. Instrumental cast: Adu and Harrold (trumpets), Oleksandr Saratsky (piano, flew in from Kyiv), Ben Williams (double bass, USA), Brian Blade (drums, USA, Harrold's regular collaborator). Total 16 tracks (8 per CD): 6 Adu originals, 5 Harrold originals, 5 jointly written. Conceptually the album is a dialogue of two trumpet schools: American (Harrold — bebop, fusion tradition through Miles Davis) and Ukrainian (Adu — folk-plaintive tradition through church heritage and Kalman). 5 joint tracks are attempts to find a common linguistic form. A special detail — on one track ('Voice from Mariupol', 9:42) Adu performs solo on the pocket-trumpet he had with him in March 2022 during the evacuation from his home city. The presentation concert runs at Lincoln Center (New York) on 14 August 2026.
