J seven saxophonist name and surname. Israeli saxophonist J.Seven: in Vladivostok there are kind people and a lot of Japanese cars. Any Jewish compositions?

Kaliningrad Regional Philharmonic named after. E.F. Svetlanova / B. st. Khmelnitsky, 61a

Tickets: 500-1000 - r

Contacts: 64-52-94 Age restrictions: 12+

description:

The popular Israeli saxophonist, performing under the pseudonym J.Seven (Jay Seven), a professional with two musical degrees, has rightfully won wide fame in many countries with his talent and fantastic manner of performance.

This is a multi-instrumentalist musician, in addition to playing the saxophone, which is his “priority” instrument, he also plays the Spanish guitar, recorder and drums.

Plus, J.Seven is incredibly artistic and has an active, dynamic demeanor on stage. Despite the fact that he has one of the most complex instruments in his hands, he moves easily, goes out into the hall, interactively “communicates” with the audience and even dances while playing! So from each of his concerts he also makes a bright, beautiful show. And most importantly, it can create a real atmosphere of romance, because this brilliant saxophonist plays the Music of Love - a golden collection of world masterpieces: Stevie Wonder, Joe Dassin, Enio Morricone and much more, no less beautiful.

Jay Seven will perform all this as a soloist here - in the Philharmonic Hall with Kaliningrad creative groups: the Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra and the Baltic Band jazz ensemble under the direction of M. Sirkachik. The concert program “From Israel with Love” will be held as part of the International Arts Festival “Amber Necklace”.

Text | Yuri KUZMIN

Photo | J.Seven Archive

The famous Israeli musician, artist-saxophonist, performing under the pseudonym J.Seven, can be called a one-man orchestra.
He is a multi-instrumentalist who masterfully performs musical works on the saxophone, Spanish guitar, recorder and percussion instruments. His creative biography includes solo concerts, as well as performances as part of a pop symphony orchestra and music shows around the world. J.Seven told our magazine about how his musical career developed and how creativity is combined with business.

Evgeniy, I’ll be honest: before the interview, I searched the entire Internet to find your real name, but I couldn’t find it. Why such secrecy and how do you manage to maintain it? What does J.Seven stand for, by the way?

J.Seven is my stage name, in Russian, you correctly noted, my name is Zhenya. That is, if you write my name in English letters, it begins with the letter J, and Seven translated from English is seven, because I was born in the 7th month, in the 7th maternity hospital, in the year 75, and was brought up in 177 kindergarten, in 1987 he began to study music, i.e., as you can see, there are sevens everywhere. I deliberately did not post my last name on the Internet, which is why you did not find it there; I prefer to at least keep some secrets about my life and biography.

- And why?

I would like the audience to identify me with my pseudonym. Still, it’s rare to see an artist with that name in the former Soviet Union, but in the West similar names exist. And I would like to remain incognito, so that there is a certain mystery for the viewer: who exactly is J.Seven?

- Tell us about your musical journey. Where did you study, what instruments did you specialize in?

In 1987, I began studying music with a private teacher, his name is Sergei Seryakov, he taught me to play the drums. I came to his group to play guitar, but since the drummer left the group, he offered me this option. He says if you want, take his place. I thought about it and agreed.

- In 1987, how old were you?

I was 12 years old when I started playing music. At the age of 17, he entered the Variety and Circus College and graduated as a drummer and saxophonist. In the Soviet Union, as a rule, they suggested taking a related instrument, and the whole college laughed at me: since the saxophone is a related instrument to drums, this in principle cannot happen. And I said: think as you want, but this is my decision. Everyone laughed, but agreed.

And thank God: I worked as a drummer with stars in the Soviet Union, and when I came to Israel in 2000, I started working with local stars. I remembered that I had a second, additional education, and began to build a solo career as an artist-saxophonist. And since at one time I learned to play the guitar from a teacher, also a private one, at concerts I use a saxophone, a guitar, and a recorder, but with the flute that’s a different story.

- What was the reason for your departure to Israel? By the way, where is your house and how much time do you spend in it?

Unfortunately, I don’t spend much time at home, because I’m constantly on tour, that is, you come for a week, two, three at most and leave again. The house is located in Haifa, in the northern part of Israel.

The departure to Israel was associated with certain spiritual beliefs. The Bible says: God will gather his Jewish people to the Promised Land.

And I probably heard the voice of God - I believe in God. I can’t say that I’m a religious person, I just believe in the existence of God, who created the Earth and everything that fills it. He did not create nations, he created people, and then people were already divided into nationalities.

That is, it was still done out of spiritual convictions, and not in pursuit of material wealth or as an escape from anti-Semitism?

No, right where I lived, Jews were treated very well, especially during perestroika.

- And if you had a choice now - to stay or go, what decision would you make?

I would have left anyway, I even regret that I didn’t do it earlier. I came to Israel at the age of 24, it was the beginning of 2000.

- Were your expectations met?

Expectations were certainly met. Honestly, I can’t even compare the former Soviet Union with the West, with Western culture, and Israel is, in general, a Western state. There is a different system, different laws, a different bureaucracy (although it is also present), but all this is at a significantly higher level than in the former Soviet space. There are, of course, some disadvantages, but there are also big advantages.

- How did your musical career develop in Israel? Why did you decide to start solo performances?

In principle, there was nothing unusual in this decision. Everything happened in the following sequence: I came to Israel, graduated from ulpan (this is a Hebrew learning studio), after which I began to look for a job, found it and began working as a drummer with such local stars as Benny Silman. This is Israeli music, the music of the Mediterranean. For quite a long time, 5–7 years, he worked with the stars of Israel as a drummer and percussionist (percussion is when African folk percussion instruments are played with hands).

And then an idea came to my mind: after all, I play the saxophone, why not try to make a solo career, start performing in concerts? The music that I perform today is not available on the concert market, so I decided to make just such a concert program and build my career as a saxophonist artist.

A solo career gives more freedom of creativity and self-expression, but at the same time it also implies responsibility with all the ensuing consequences. If difficulties suddenly arise, you can no longer delegate the solution to complex issues to anyone; you are responsible for everything yourself. But does anyone help you organize concerts, is there an impresario or partner for organizing concerts abroad?

Yes, of course, because you can’t cope with this task yourself. By the way, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the one who first brought me to Russia, to Chelyabinsk and Yekaterinburg. There is Ilya Belov, director of the production center “World of Show” in Chelyabinsk, and I am very grateful to this person. Next were Tver, Veliky Novgorod, by the way, I visited these cities twice, and despite the fact that I am not a media person, as you usually say, thank God, I have sold-out houses everywhere.

People love this music, now they have already begun to love it in my performance, and there are more and more tours both in Russia and abroad. Of course, it’s impossible without partners: there must be people who organize concerts - managers, promoters, administrators.

You started your musical career as a drummer, then became a saxophonist, moreover, a real virtuoso of this instrument. My family and I attended your concert in Sochi, we had a lot of fun and saw that you also perform with an acoustic guitar and flute. Still, what is the main instrument for you and how did the other instruments appear in your career?

Thank you, it’s nice to hear that you enjoyed attending my concert in Sochi. I can’t say that any instrument is the main one. I love to play the drums, the saxophone, and the guitar. But, I think, today the saxophone has become the main instrument. I play and my soul sings.

- You have to play drums as part of a band, right?

Well, sometimes I can perform some numbers solo, but mostly, of course, I play drum solos during a concert, accompanied by musicians. Regarding the other instruments that appeared in my life: once in my distant childhood I learned to play the classical guitar, and then somehow included several numbers with a Spanish guitar in the concert program so that the viewer, so to speak, would not be bored all the time listen to one saxophone. Those who love the guitar can listen to the guitar, those who love the flute can hear the flute at my concerts.

The flute is a completely different story: I got the flute completely by accident, I got it from my nephew. This flute was originally intended for music school students. I just liked the sound of this instrument, and I tell my nephew: “Let me buy it from you.” And today this instrument is heard at my concerts.

I want to emphasize: this is not the flute that artists and musicians usually play, but a recorder. Typically, such an instrument was made of wood, but my flute is made of hard rubber. I perform works such as, for example, “The Lonely Shepherd” by Gheorghe Zamfira (best known by the James Last Orchestra).

- Your concerts are held under the slogan “This is not jazz, this is the music of love.” Why, by the way, not jazz?

The fact is that not all people love and understand jazz. I believe that jazz is more music for the musicians themselves. Ordinary people who are not professionally associated with music still prefer lighter, melodic music, in the style of Joe Dassin, Stevie Wonder, Ennio Morricone, that is, what is closer and more understandable to their ears, soul, culture, and upbringing. In jazz, musicians to a greater extent demonstrate their mastery of playing the instrument, their virtuosity, and the ability to improvise.

True, we must pay tribute, there are professionals, wonderful jazz musicians who do this so creatively that you will be heard.

- What do you mean by the concept of “music of love”?

The music of love takes a person, in my opinion, back to his youth, when such masterpieces as Fausto Papetti’s melody from the film “Emmanuelle” and Joe Dassin’s song “If You Weren’t There” were heard. This is music that truly literally speaks of love. That’s why I called my concerts “Music of Love.” Basically I play exactly the kind of music that touches a person’s soul, listening to which a person remembers his youth, his first love, a kiss near the entrance under a lantern... You can do it without a lantern, in the twilight, it’s even more romantic (laughs).

-What is love for you?

I think it is impossible to answer this question unambiguously. Love is when a person is ready to sacrifice himself for the sake of another, to overcome any difficulties or obstacles. For me, this is precisely what love is about, because when I loved, I made sacrifices and for the sake of my loved one was ready to get a star from the sky.

- Which composers do you like to perform most? What is on your mind?

Naturally, those whom I have already listed - Joe Dassin, Fausto Papetti, of course, one cannot ignore the world masterpieces of Gheorghe Zamfir, Kenny G.

Well, in general, all those whom I perform at my concerts, as well as other composers who write music in similar styles and musical directions.

- Are there any Jewish compositions?

If an artist is from Israel, everyone, of course, expects some kind of Jewish works from him. Recently, I have included “Hava Nagila” and “Tum-Balalaika” in my concert program; I had not played them before.

- “Hava nagila”, as far as I know, is translated as “let us rejoice.”

Yes, let's have fun and rejoice together.

- So it's not really about love.

Yes, this is a joyful song, but there must be some funny, interesting, invigorating works, because listening to only calm music all the time is probably a little tiring. And then joy and love are very connected with each other.

- Are there other performers performing in a genre similar to yours?

Yes, sure. Kenny G, Dave Koz. But this is, rather, smooth jazz (American), today a new direction in music has appeared. Smooth jazz is something between jazz and romance.

- Where are they from?

These are, so to speak, Russian Americans, guys from Russia, but raised in America. In terms of mentality and language, they cannot be called Russian people, but by blood they are former Russians.

Solo concert activity suggests that the musician is still quite involved in the economic side of his business. For you, is concert activity a business or more of an art? Sorry for the indiscreet questions.

The question is very correct, a sober question. Of course, show business is a business. But still, this is art, and the satisfaction of spiritual aspirations, and creativity. To do this business you need creativity. Someone invented it, someone wrote it, someone created it. I am currently a performer, but I also have my own works, which I play on the guitar, flute and saxophone, and I think that not only for me, but for most performers, these aspects are combined, one is inseparable from the other - show and business.

Of course, world stars have a whole staff of producers, directors, etc. What percentage of your working time is spent on organizational and production activities?

When I first started my concert career, it was quite difficult, but now I already have administrators. In principle, running this business yourself when you enter the concert market simply won’t work, because it is physically impossible to constantly contact someone, send contracts, sign something. That's why I work with administrators both in Russia and in the West.

- Do you yourself take part in this activity?

Now it’s indirect, if they only contact me for some signatures, agreement on contracts, etc.

- I’m not asking how many dollars or shekels you earn, but still the business is profitable, does it allow you to live?

Well, of course, it allows you to live, and allows you to live with dignity, let’s put it that way.

- What advice would you give to musicians who want to start a solo career?

First of all, there is no need to be afraid. By the way, I would like to note this point: when I was going to enter the concert market, no one believed that it could be done. The musicians who work on the same stage with me today didn’t even want to hear about it, didn’t want to talk about it.

Because the music I play today is generally the music of the past. But in the end it turned out that people know her, remember her, love her and get great pleasure from her.

I would like to advise young guys who are afraid that they won’t succeed, that something somewhere won’t work out for them: you need to take yourself into hands, see the path to the goal you want to achieve, and start knocking on all doors. And some door must open, it cannot be that all the doors are locked.

A concert of saxophonist J. Seven (Israel) took place in Krasnoyarsk. Probably, he should be considered primarily as a popularizer of many melodies from the “golden” world fund, although the musician has already been elevated to the rank of a multi-instrumentalist...

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From the saxophone to the knife

J. Seven (a famous brand of juice immediately comes to mind!) performed on the stage of the Opera and Ballet Theater on a weekday, but managed to gather a full house. By the way, literally a few minutes before going to the concert, I read in a book by one historiographer of Russian rock music that in the 1960-1970s, when Western music was ironed out like a heavy tank by the official press (however, another then was not), firstly, the saxophone was considered a symbol of the decaying and decaying West. Secondly, a strange thought was persistently pursued, they say, from this musical instrument to a knife is very close. Of course, there is no more logic in this than in the well-known formula: “Today he plays jazz, and tomorrow he will sell his homeland”...

The saxophonist came on stage dressed rather modestly: a jacket, jeans, and a baseball cap that hid his eyes. He greeted the audience in several languages ​​and, promising to reveal the secret of his pseudonym in the second part of the concert, got down to business. He was alone on stage, blowing sounds from the saxophone over the backing track, and behind him flashed the “animation” - footage of a video installation. At the same time, one of the Internet sites states that the musician can perform with an ensemble of six people, including a vocalist. And this is correct, because people are not yet very accustomed to “bare” instrumentals...

Hit conveyor

Almost the entire program consisted of romantic melodies, soulful zongs about love... “The music of love takes a person, in my opinion, back to his youth, when such masterpieces as Fausto Papetti’s melody from the film “Emmanuelle” and Joe Dassin’s song “If You Weren’t There” were heard. This is music that truly literally speaks of love. That’s why I called my concerts “Music of Love.” Basically, I play exactly the kind of music that touches a person’s soul, listening to which a person remembers his youth, his first love, a kiss near the entrance under a lantern,” he once explained J.Seven in one of his rather rare interviews.

What melodies, performed at the concert in Krasnoyarsk, were remembered more than others?

I think that during the performance of the world hit from “Titanic” “My Heart Will Go On”, the musician’s saxophone melted the remaining ice in the hearts of the fair half of humanity. Moreover, in the background of the video installation there was a clip of the Canadian singer Celine Dion (the first performer of this masterpiece) - with footage from the James Cameron film.

It is worth noting that J. Seven, who immediately warned that almost everything is allowed at his concerts (and he himself can, despite the saxophone, come into fairly close contact with the audience) almost immediately went to get acquainted with the hall. To begin with, he “mastered” the first row, and then over and over again he went deeper and deeper, so even in the gallery they could clearly see a musician who truly masterfully wielded the instrument - probably, he could blow the necessary notes out of it, even standing on his head.

He also very organically “entered” with his saxophone several imperishable melodies from Joe Dassin’s repertoire. One of the saddest and probably the most famousEt si tu n'existais pas, was a resounding success 40 years ago, in March 1976, whenfirst released as a single. The composition, written by Toto Cutugno, has been known since Soviet times and in the Russian version - under the name"If I did not have you".

But in the “saxophone” part of the concert, the main thing was Steve Wonder’s hitI Just Called to Say I Love You . At this point the artist could not resist and, after another run around the hall, began singing into the microphone. Also twice he invited Krasnoyarsk residents (and mostly Krasnoyarsk women) to the stage. The girls came out first, who then danced on both sides of the musician while he performed the next number in his program. But at the same time, J. Seven managed to pay attention not only to the saxophone, but also to the spontaneously formed “corps de ballet”.

The next time, the musician began to call out pairs - although not immediately, but there were a sufficient number of them. And here we couldn’t do without dancing (slow this time)…

Later J.Seven also revealed the secret of his stage name. It turned out that the musician, who was born and raised in Russia, is called Evgeniy or Zhenya (although he tries not to show his last name anywhere) - hence J., and Seven, as you know, is seven in English. The musician has a lot to do with this lucky number. As he himself explains, he was born in July - that is, in the 7th month, this happened in the 7th maternity hospital, then he went to the 177th kindergarten, in 1987 he began to study music, etc.

Guitar and flute

Soon the artist put down the saxophone and picked up a Spanish guitar, performing several more soulful melodies. True, the new instrument “tied” him to the stage, depriving him of the opportunity to move freely around the hall.

Well, it all ended with the musician soloing on the recorder, although it was noticeable that his command of it was still worse than that of the saxophone. The main hit of this part of the concert was the famous composition "A lonely shepherd". It became very popular all over the world after it was performed by the James Last Orchestra in the late 1970s - it is known that the composer originally wrote it for his unreleased album “Film Music Without Films,” but the solo part was given specially to the invited Romanian pan flutist Gheorghe Zamfir. It turned out to be a worldwide hit, which was then never used. The same Zamfir included “Shepherd” in all his concerts... “The music that I play today is generally the music of the past. But in the end it turned out that people know her, remember her, love her and get great pleasure from her,” J.Seven once admitted.

Towards the end of the concert, the people in the hall got a little excited. I remember, for example, one lady who danced solo for a long time in the aisle - to the left of the stage. The musician immediately noticed this and kept her company, but, naturally, not to the detriment of playing music...

It is known that in Russia J.Seven has already performed in Chelyabinsk, Tver, and Veliky Novgorod. And shortly before Krasnoyarsk, he looked into Yekaterinburg - a gala concert dedicated to International Women’s Day took place at the Officers’ House of the Central Military District, where various artists appeared, including a participant in the “Voice” show Artyom Katorgin.

But, as for Siberia, as the musician himself admitted, he began its development in Krasnoyarsk.

And further. According to available information, a few days later the romantic saxophone was already being listened to in the Belarusian Mogilev. In principle, today J.Seven can go even to the Papuans cut off from civilization: the language of music is universal and does not require translation, and all the compositions performed have long passed the test of time...

Touches to the portrait

Started playing music at the age of 12. At the age of 17, he entered the Variety and Circus College, graduating as a drummer and saxophonist.

In Russia he worked as a drummer with various stars. At the beginning of 2000, he left for Israel, where he began collaborating with local musicians not only as a drummer, but also as a percussionist.

Later he decided to pursue a solo career as a saxophonist. “When I was going to enter the concert market, no one believed that it could be done. The musicians who work on the same stage with me today didn’t even want to hear about it, didn’t want to talk about it. And since I once learned to play the guitar from a teacher, also a private one, at concerts I use a saxophone, a guitar, and a recorder,” explained J.Seven in an interview.

J.SEVEN (ISRAEL) - saxophonist artist. Performing musical compositions on the saxophone, Spanish guitar, recorder and drums.
The popular Israeli artist saxophonist, performing under the pseudonym J.Seven (Jay Seven), is a professional with two musical degrees, who with his talent, painstaking work and virtuosic manner of performance has won wide fame and, rightfully, stands among the performers whose concerts evoke genuine interest of all music lovers. J.Seven is a musician, an artist saxophonist who, in addition to playing the saxophone, which is his “priority” instrument, also plays the Spanish guitar, recorder and drums. Unlike many musicians, J.Seven is distinguished by his active style, artistry and extraordinary behavior on stage. Despite the fact that he has one of the most complex instruments in his hands, he moves, goes out into the hall, “communicates” with the audience, and even jumps and dances while playing the saxophone!
J.Seven is a multi-instrumentalist musician who, in addition to playing the saxophone, which is his “priority” instrument, also plays the Spanish guitar, recorder and drums. Unlike many musicians, J.Seven is distinguished by his active style, artistry and extraordinary behavior on stage. Today J.Seven is known not only in Israel, but is also a welcome guest on the stages of many countries around the world. The “Music of Love” concert with the artist J.Seven will not leave indifferent even the most demanding music connoisseur and will undoubtedly bring real pleasure to everyone who comes to meet real Music.J.Seven website for organizing a concert to book a corporate performance. The official website of J.Seven where you can get acquainted with the work, and using the contact numbers indicated on the site, you can invite J.Seven to give a concert for a wedding or order J.Seven a performance for an anniversary. Photos and videos of J.Seven on the website. The fee and how much it costs for J.Seven to perform for the holiday, call the phone number on the website.

Cost of performance

The price is flexible depending on the scale of the event, the location of the performance, the wishes and interests of the customer.

Description

J. Seven is an extraordinary performer who can create a real atmosphere of romance during the show - the saxophonist plays the music of love. The uniqueness of his talent is that the artist, in addition to the saxophone, has a wonderful command of the Spanish guitar, drums and recorder. The concert will feature a golden collection of world masterpieces: Stevie Wonder, Joe Dassin, Fausto Papetti and much more. You can enjoy the hoarse voice of a saxophone and return to your youth for two hours, remembering your first love.

Repertoire

Golden collection of world masterpieces
- Concerts of romantic saxophone music

Duration of the program

from 1 hour 45 minutes before 2 hours

Compound

Solo artist
(performing as part of a group is possible:
Ronald Lees – keyboards
Saar Anak – bass guitar
Evgenia Ninburg – rhythm-solo guitar
Stas Zilberman – drums
Mikhail Ostrover – violin
Anastasia Kazakova - vocals)