Georgy Garanyan dies at 76

January 11, 2010 - 15:14 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net -
Prominent jazzman, People's Artist of Russia Georgy Garanyan died in Krasnodar at the age of 76 on Monday morning, Nelli Zakirova, the widow of the celebrated jazzman, told Itar-Tass.

Maestro Vladimir Spivakov, Artistic director of the world famous Virtuozy Moskvy orchestra, said it was a great honour to him that Georgy Garanyan had recently worked a great deal with his orchestra and enjoyed it, Spivakov told Itar-Tass by telephone Monday. "There was a spirit of mutual deep respect between Maestro Garanyan and the orchestra's musicians, and we were deeply attached to him as a person," Vladimir Spivakov said.

"Georgy Garanyan's death is great loss both to the world of music and people because he was a handsome, clever, good-natured person who attracted people," Spivakov said. "I am confident that Georgy Garanyan will always live in memories of all those who knew him and listened to his music as a person of great heart and tremendous musical talent," Spivakov said.

Georgy Garanyan

Georgy Garanyan was a People's Artist of Russia, a laureate of state awards of the Russian Federation, a laureate of international jazz festivals, he was Chief conductor of Oleg Lundstrem Jazz Orchestra. Garanyan represented the first post-war generation of masters of Russian jazz. In 1958 Garanyan's saxophone first sounded in Oleg Lundstrem's orchestra and later, in 1966 in a concert jazz orchestra of Soviet radio.

In the mid-1960s modern jazz compositions made Garanyan popular. In 1973 he was invited to work for the Melody music recording company, which was an important landmark in his career. Garanyan founded a modern jazz ensemble named after the Melody giant. It was a star pop group remembered in all corners of Russia to the present day. The famous jazz band accompanied singers, recorded dance music and jazz compositions.

In 1991 Garanyan's dream came true. He founded the Moscow Big Band in which the most talented professional jazzmen performed. Experts and general public praised the Big Band for its unique sound and excellent music arrangements made by its founder and artistic director.