About
Guitarist and composer Evgeny Pobozhiy is the first Russian musician to win the famous Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz guitar Competition 2019, the most significant competition in the world of jazz.
As a soloist of the Moscow Jazz Orchestra and the leader of his own band, Evgeny took part in many significant events in the world of jazz, including the world's largest festivals (Rochester Jazz Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, Montreux Jazz Festival, Umbria Jazz Festival, Lotos Jazz Festival, Jazz Triumph, etc.). d.); performed at major jazz venues around the world (Blue Note jazz club, New York; Ronnie Scott’s, London; A-Trane, Berlin; Blue Note, Beijing, etc.). In 2018, together with the Moscow Jazz Orchestra, Evgeny took part in The International Jazz Day Global Concert (St. Petersburg), performing on the same stage with world stars of the first magnitude, such as Herbie Hancock, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Manhattan Transfer, Branford Marsalis, Joey Defrancesco.
In 2020, Evgeny Pobozhiy and Igor Butman became representatives of Russia who took part in The International Jazz Day Virtual Global Concert - an online broadcast dedicated to the International Jazz Day, which included performances by such recognized masters as Marcus Miller, John Scofield, John Mclaughlin, Danilo Perez , Diane Reeves, Lizz Wright, Lee Ritenour and others.
In September 2022, Evgeny Pobozhiy’s debut album “Elements for Peace” was released, featuring some of the most respected musicians of the New York jazz scene: drummer Antonio Sanchez, bassist Matt Brewer, pianist Aaron Parks and saxophonist Ben Wendel.
In April 2024, Evgeny Pobozhiy presented his new author’s album and new project - Evgeny Pobozhiy Orchestra - “Stream”. This album organically intertwines elements of such styles as jazz fusion, progressive rock and modern academic music. Pobozhiy’s original compositions are richly decorated with the sound of a string group, and the virtuosity and drama are balanced by the exquisite musical language of arranger Anna Rakita (who also performed the 1st violin part on the album) and one of the most famous contemporary academic composers in Russia, Alexander Rosenblatt.
Today, Evgeny Pobozhiy is one of the leaders of the young Moscow jazz scene, rapidly gaining popularity, including thanks to various international projects, in which Evgeny attracts young jazz fusion stars from the USA, Europe and Asia. One such project is the Evgeny Pobozhiy Quintet. The quintet's program includes Evgeny's original music at the intersection of various styles, such as jazz, funk, rock, hip-hop, world music and modern academic music. The combination of powerful energy, large-scale compositions and virtuosity of the performers makes each performance of the quintet a bright and unforgettable event.
