Jazz Guitarist and Composer Pissarenko Named ERR's Musician of the Year
The Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR) corporation's music writers have picked jazzman Oleg Pissarenko as the Musician of the Year 2013.
They highlighted his compositions and his work in popularizing jazz in Tartu, Narva and smaller cities, crediting him as an "outstanding performer, educator, producer and uniter of society."
Most of Pissarenko's seven albums were recorded by ERR. Collaboration with ERR's producers and studios is a requirement for the award.
He is the host of "Jazz Park" on Russian-language Raadio 4 and he has been a regular on other ERR services as have his rhythm students from the Heino Eller School of Music.
ETV will air a portrait of Pissarenko at 9:00 on January 5 and he will also appear on "Tähelaev" that same Sunday morning.
Pissarenko will accept the honor at a January 5 concert at Tartu's Athena Center, where he will play guitar in an ensemble with Raun Juurikas on keyboards, Mihkel Mälgand on electric bass and Ahto Abner on drums. It can be heard live on Klassikaraadio and Vikerraadio, and can be seen via live video stream on kultuur.err.ee.
Pissarenkoi joins the ranks of former winners such as Paavo Järvi (2012), Ivo Linna (2009), Tiia-Ester Loitme (2008), Anu Tali (2006), Kalle Randalu (1982), Alo Mattiisen (1988), Valter Ojakäär (1993), Erkki-Sven Tüür (1996), Tõnu Kaljuste (1998) and Rein Rannap (2002).