Concept album of 10 tracks — fermenting Ukrainian folk into jazz form. Release 14 June 2026 on the Mukha Records label.
Laura Marti presents the conceptual jazz album 'Borsch Jazz' on 14 June 2026 on the Ukrainian jazz label Mukha Records. This is a 10-track LP whose idea is to 'ferment' classical Ukrainian folk melodies into jazz form, the way borsch ferments over time. The concept emerged with Marti during a two-week jazz residency camp in Brandenburg (Germany) in September 2024. The album includes these transformations: 1) 'Chervona Ruta' in swing format with a trumpet solo (8:42); 2) 'Oh, in the Cherry Orchard' in jazz-noir style (Bill Evans-style) (6:18); 3) 'Tsvite Teren' in free-jazz form with abstract piano (10:25); 4) 'Hey, hop, po harbu' in funk-jazz setting (5:50); 5) 'Stands a High Mountain' — a ballad with string quartet (7:33). The other 5 tracks are Marti's original compositions in the same aesthetic. Instrumental cast: piano — Oleksandr Saratsky (one of Ukraine's leading jazz pianists — see separate news), trumpet — Dennis Adu, double bass — Nazariy Lopata, drums — Oleksandr Boyko. Recording took place at Studio Slime in Kyiv from January to March 2026. The presentation concert runs at Bel Etage Music Hall in Lviv on 18 June 2026, then in Kyiv (Caribbean Club) on 22 June and Odesa (Music Hall) on 26 June. The album releases in formats: digital, CD digipak, 180g vinyl (limited 500 copies).
