Igor Butman

Famous Russian jazz musician and Sochi 2014 Ambassador

Igor Butman is a world-famous Russian jazz musician, leader of his orchestra, winner of State Prize of Russian Federation.

Igor was born in 1961 in Leningrad, in 1980 he graduated from Rimsky-Korsakov Music College with a degree in saxophone performance. In 1987 the musician moved to the USA and entered prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. Moving to New York in 1989, Butman worked with The Lionel Hampton Orchestra and many other greatest musicians – including Pat Metheny, Joe Lovano, Archie Shepp, Rachel Z. Billy Taylor Quartet, Walter Davis Quartet and Monty Alexander Quintet.

In 1997 Igor returned to Russia and soon after that founded Igor Butman Jazz Orchestra, gathering best Russian jazzmen. Orchestra has frequently toured Russia, Europe, and the USA, appearing at the world’s most prestigious jazz venues, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, “Birdland” and others.

The saxophonist launched two Igor Butman Jazz Club in Moscow - at Chisite Prudi (in 2006) and at Sokol (in 2011). Igor is the producer of two biggest jazz festivals in Russia - “Triumph of Jazz” (Moscow) and “”AquaJazz” (Sochi). Also he runs his own label “Butman Music”, which releases albums of Russian-American jazz projects.