Animal Jazz is a band from St. Petersburg. This is perhaps the only adult band that managed to attract the attention of teenagers with their tracks.
Fans love the compositions of the guys for their sincerity, poignant and meaningful lyrics.
The history of the creation and composition of the Animal Jazz group
The Animal Jazz group was founded in 2000 in the cultural capital of Russia - St. Petersburg. It is interesting that the songs of the guys, although they belong to rock, do not have a rebellious mood in them.
The group's concerts were also modest and cultural. Without breaking the guitar on the floor and other standard rituals. In a word, a team from St. Petersburg.
The idea of creating a team belongs to Alexander Krasovitsky. At the time of the founding of the group, the musician was 28 years old.
Before the creation of the team, the young man managed to move to the northern capital from Magadan, enter St. Petersburg State University at the Faculty of Sociology, get married and start a family.
Alexander did not plan to perform on stage and make music. He had excellent vocal abilities. Sasha sang exclusively for friends, and they said that he had a voice from God.
While studying at an educational institution, Alexander often sang in the hostel and at student concerts, but Sasha seriously took up music as an adult. In 1999, he was at the performance of the singer Zemfira. He later commented:
“I was attracted by the atmosphere that reigned at Zemfira's concert. Actually, then I thought about the fact that I myself want to sing.
The team was formed spontaneously. Vocalist Alexander Krasovitsky (Mikhalych) and bass guitarist Igor Bulygin then already had experience of being on stage, since they were members of the same band.
How the group was created
Mikhalych and Bulygin sang in one of St. Petersburg's local cellars. By the way, many beginning bands rehearsed there. Once, having again heard the neighbors behind the wall, Alexander Krasovitsky suggested that the musicians create a group.
Krasovitsky already had some "developments". Only a few musicians were missing. So the group included: backing vocalist, keyboardist and drummer.
The Animal Jazz group is a vivid example of a close-knit musical group. Especially when you focus on how easily modern bands break up.
Three people out of five soloists (Krasovitsky (vocals), Bulygin (bass) and Ryakhovsky (backing and guitar)) have been performing since the band was founded.
A little later, two more members joined the guys: Alexander Zarankin (keyboards) and Sergey Kivin (drums).
And if Krasovitsky quickly recruited participants for the group, then he had to work on the name of the new team. As a result of lengthy negotiations, drummer Sergei Egorov suggested that his colleagues name the band Animal Jazz.
Not everyone liked the proposal, but time was running out. It was just necessary to print posters, and the rock band worked without a name.
I had to take what is. Now the musicians frankly admit that they do not represent another name for their band.
The creative path and music of Animal Jazz
Musicians create songs in several styles - art rock, alternative rock, indie and post-grunge. Animal Jazz soloists prefer to say that their compositions are heavy guitar electrics.
The author of the lyrics is Alexander Krasovitsky. Sasha admitted that it is harder for him to write texts than music, but he cannot entrust this process to other soloists.
In 2018, the team celebrated a round date - 18 years since the creation of the team. In honor of this event, the musicians presented the album "Happiness". For 18 years of work, the group has replenished the discography with nine albums.
The band's most successful album
According to music critics, the most successful album is the collection "Step Breath". The composition of the same name from this disc was released as a soundtrack to the film "Graffiti" by Igor Apasyan.
And yet, the song "Three Stripes" became the most important track. "Three Stripes" is the anthem of youth, youth, love, it is the anthem of teenagers.
Interestingly, the song was hugely popular in both 2006 and 2020. The track received the prestigious "Best Hit of the Year" award at the A-ONE RAMP Awards.
Then four acoustic collections of the band were released. Several compilations from the discography have been recorded with funds raised through crowdfunding platforms. The same funds were used to release some video clips.
The team has repeatedly participated in music festivals. So, the guys performed at the festivals "Maksidrom", "Wings", "Invasion".
At events, the group performed with groups: Bi-2, Leprikonsy, Agatha Christie, Chizh & Co.
Despite the fact that the Animal JaZ group was a popular Russian band, the guys performed the tracks of their foreign colleagues (Garbage, The Rasmus, Linkin Park) with pleasure.
In 2012, at a Red Hot Chili Peppers concert in St. Petersburg, fans first heard a joint song by Mikhalych and singer MakSim.
The pop singer appeared before the audience in an unusual role. A video clip was shot for the musical composition "Live", which gained millions of views on YouTube video hosting.
This is not the only interesting collaboration. For example, in 2009, the composition “Everything is Possible” was recorded with Vladi from the Kasta rap group. For a long time the track occupied the 1st position on local radio.
Since 2011, two Alexanders (keyboardist and vocalist) have been leading the side project Zero People. The musicians worked in such an interesting genre as authentic minimalist rock.
The musicians of the Animal Jazz group said that their performances are always modest and cultured. As the soloists said: “We are the most boring rock band.
After the performance, we go to bed at the hotel. We do not use our opportunities and popularity. This also applies to casual relationships with girls.
Interesting facts about Animal Jazz
- The soloist of the musical group Mikhalych does not hear in his left ear, but this does not affect his work.
- Alexander Krasovitsky took part in the filming of the film "School Shooter", the soundtrack to which was the composition of the Animal Jazz group "Lie".
- The soloists of the group filmed a project for YouTube "Blue Tales". Under the influence of alcohol, the guys told fairy tales to their audience, and then filmed a video sequence for the script.
- Sergey Kivin dreamed of becoming a drummer since childhood. And all because of the fact that I once listened to the track of the artist Dire Straits Industrial Disease.
- Animal Jazz has a very serious fan base. "Fans" do not approach the team on the street, so as not to violate their personal space, and only then write to the guys on social networks. The soloists of the group spoke about this in their interview.
Animal Jazz today
In most cases, the leader of the team, Alexander Krasovitsky, holds press conferences and is responsible for the image of the team.
The young man talks about his creative plans, new albums, video clips, tours. Many fans are also interested in information about Krasovitsky's personal life.
The leader of the group met with the singer MakSim for a long time. The lovers did not hide their relationship, not being afraid of slander. Alexander dedicated the record “REM Sleep Phases” to the singer. But soon the lovers parted.
In 2018, the group released a new album, which was called "Happiness". The soloists said: "This is a collection about love, happiness and St. Petersburg."
The collection includes 13 tracks. To get the "big picture" of the album, musicians are advised to listen to the tracks from beginning to end.
In 2019, the band presented the album "Time to Love", which became the tenth album in the band's discography. On the day of the premiere, the soloists posted on their Instagram: "It's time to love, not the time to drop bombs!".
In 2020, the Animal Jazz group went on a big tour. The concerts of the group took place on the territory of Russia and Ukraine.
