Kyiv’s Fusion jazz community has launched their own record label, “No Time For Swing”, to promote Ukrainian jazz both in Ukraine and abroad. Fusion is an independent creative association that works towards the popularization of modern jazz directions, and promotes the genre by organizing various events such as lectures, film screenings and musical gatherings. Their series of musical events, Fusion Jams, features different performers coming together to form improvised groups.
“No Time For Swing” Label
The “No Time For Swing” label’s first release will be presented at the Kyiv club Closer on March 19th. The label was created during a full-scale invasion and aims to present the world with jazz and electric jazz variations of Ukrainian folk music. The first collection is titled “Blakyt” and includes songs by well-known Ukrainian performers, such as Dennis Adu, Yana Vyalova, Yevgeny Pugachev, Boris Mogilevsky and Daniil Zverkhanovsky. The collection also features two versions of the jazz anthem of Ukraine from Misha Mendelenko and Roman Bulakhov.
Premiere of “Blakyt”
The premiere of “Blakyt” at Closer will feature performances by the musicians featured on the album, including Hyphen Dash and Boris Tkachuk. The collection will be available to listen to on the Bandcamp platform immediately after the presentation, and all funds from its acquisition will be transferred to the Music Saves UA fund.The launch of the No Time For Swing label by Kyiv’s Fusion jazz community is a positive step for Ukrainian jazz. The label’s first collection, “Blakyt”, featuring jazz and electric jazz variations of Ukrainian folk music, is a great way to showcase the talent of local performers. By promoting and popularizing Ukrainian jazz both at home and internationally, the Fusion community and “No Time For Swing” label are helping to preserve and evolve this important genre of music.