Nikolai Kapustin: Variations, op. 3 for Piano and Orchestra

Without any doubt one of the greatest ever jazz pianists, and a superb unique composer.

Bravo!!!

I have printed out note exact transcriptions of scores of both Art Tatum and Kapustin.Although there is no doubt about the incredible talent of Tatum , I must say that his left hand is inferior compared to kapustin.Kapustin was astudent from Alexander Goldenweiser and was able to play Rachm.Concerto nr.3 and Prokofiev nr.2.

is the theme an original?

America had Art Tatum and Russia had Kapustin. So it wasn't all about black amd white back in those days, it was rather the gray area in between that needs to be studied. Few would believe that the jazz scene in Russia was a throbbing, thriving enterprise with cats like Garanian, Kapustin, Zubov, Baholdin, Ponomarev, etc.

On that showing, Kapustin certainly was totally at home in the big band idiom. I wonder if his piano solo was improvised. If not (and his solo there sounds prepared) are there any recorded examples of him improvising Jazz?

Do you have a date for this recording?

Graham Lyons