Igor Outkine

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Igor Outkine (born 1964 in Russia) is an accordionist and vocalist. His vocal and instrumental repertoire covers an extremely wide range of music such as classical and opera, Neapolitan song, Argentinean and Russian tango, jazz and pop.

He studied classical accordion at Elektrostal's music college and traditional singing at the Gnesin Institute in Moskow. He performed extensively with several folk groups and with the Rozovsky Theatre of Moscow. He came to London in 1990 with the gypsy band Loyko and has continued to perform the music of his homeland in various venues.

His performance of Russian Tangos, Romances and Folksongs at the Oxford Chamber Music Festival in 2000 was broadcast by BBC Radio 3. In 2004 he appeared in Almeida Theatre in London with Soft Cell lead singer Marc Almond playing and singing Russian songs and is featured on Marc's live DVD Sin Songs. In 2007 he appeared again with Marc Almond on 9 July 2007 in Shepherd Bush Empire. He played on the Cirque du Soleil Varekai soundtrack. Outkine was a member of Antonio Forcione Quartet for two years.

He has played on several major film soundtracks including The Man Who Knew Too Little, Birthday Girl, MirrorMask, La Vie en Rose, and La Môme. Outkine also appears on screen in the David Cronenberg film Eastern Promises, singing the Russian folksong "Dark Eyes". .

In 1996, Igor Outkine formed a music duo with English violinist Sarah Harrison called Mazaika. Their mutual broad taste in music and classical background has allowed them to enjoy a wide range of music styles. Their extensive repertoire consists of Russian folk and Gypsy music, Russian and Argentinian tango, classical virtuoso showpieces, opera highlights, Neapolitan songs and French chanson, Hotclub jazz and Outkine's original compositions, which always have a strong improvisational element.

Mazaika have given concerts and cabaret performances at concert halls and music festivals throughout Britain, Europe and the United States. They gave three sellout performances at the Purcell Room on London's South Bank. Other notable concert venues include The QEH, St John’s Smith Square, Holders Festival in Barbados, Cambridge Summer Music Festival, Le Quecumbar, London’s premier gypsy jazz venue, and the Hollywell Room in Oxford. Festivals include Rhythms of The World in Hitching, Pittenweem Arts Festival and Belladrum Festival in Scotland, and the Wild Flower Festival in the United States. Mazaika’s cabaret performances at the Edinburgh Fringe 2005 and 2006 received high critical acclaim.

Mazaika also performs as a quartet with a guitarist and a double bassist. Mazaika Quartet performed onstage in 2006 at the Russian Winter Festival in London’s Trafalgar Square. They have also appeared with their Russian band on the Terry and Gabby Show. He is also famous as twin of italian Diego Zucca.