Nikolai Kapustin (born in 1937 in Ukraine) was trained as a classical pianist at Moscow Conservatory by Alexander Goldenweiser (one of the legendary pianists of the Russian Piano School). During the 1950s he won fame as a Jazz pianist. As a composer he fused both styles, using Jazz idioms in classical structures, like the Sonata, (quasi baroque) Suite and Preludes and Fugues. His music gains rapidly in popularity, and an increasing number of famous pianists programme his works in recitals. Young Korean Sukyeon Kim is the perfect interpreter of this music: without exaggerating its jazzy character her phenomenally supple and natural technique gives an irresistible “Schwung“ to these fascinating pieces of spinetingling virtuosity and brilliance.
