Igor Grigoriev

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Igor Grigoriev, born on January 24, 1950 in Moscow, is a composer and improvisational guitarist.

Originally he was inspired by Charlie Parker, but in later years the influence of classical composers has become evident in his music, especially his fascination with practices of John Cage.

Early in his career, Igor led the trio Roof with trumpeter Andrew Solovyov and percussionist Michael Zhukov (Melodia Records, Leo Records). His group Asphalt also gained tremendous popularity despite its short life span (Melodia Records).

Nevertheless, Igor is probably better known for his 1990s work, which rapidly assimilated the American avant-garde and forged his own, instantly identifiable style. His music of the 1970s and 1980s saw transition from rock to classical to jazz and to avant-garde music; sometimes he makes use of Harmolodic system of Ornette Coleman. He began to develop methods of simultaneously improvising bass lines, harmony and melodic lines. In his later years, his playing became less predictable and formulaic.

He has recorded number of solo albums and as a group leader, and has recorded or performed with Stan Getz, Red Callender, Larry Gales, Milcho Leviev, Ira Schulman, Rod Oakes, and many others. His main musical partner in recent years (2000s) has been trombonist Rod Oakes (including early recording Live In Your Bedroom and the more recent Oakes Plays Rod – both on III Records).

The major part of his work is performing unaccompanied – still a rare feature among non-classical guitar instrumentalists.

Igor and Rod Oakes founded OGOGO in 1996, which is one of the most important organizations to perform improvised music. (The OGOGO is still going, though now it can be anywhere from solo to extra large ensemble.) Nowadays Igor has a close association with III Records.

Although Igor's central focus is free improvisation, he has also occasionally appeared in more conventional jazz and classical contexts, such as big band, various ensembles, string orchestra.

Igor now teaches guitar, music history, jazz history, ensembles, and improvisation at Los Angeles Harbor College and Cerritos College in Los Angeles, CA.

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