JUST FRIENDS album is dedicated to one of America’s most iconic jazz trumpet players and singers, Chet Baker. I titled the album Just Friends after a classic jazz standard of the same name that Chet included in his own repertoire. His rendition of it inspired me when I was a young musician, and pushed me to start finding my own voice in the world of jazz. As my composition and playing styles matured over the years, I began to wonder what Chet, with his musical genius, would sound like if he was a contemporary jazz artist today.
That's how the idea behind my latest album was born. I have tried to show the connection between several generations of jazz, reimagining Chet’s most recognizable songs from the Great American Songbook with my renditions. I've also included a few of my own original, contemporary tunes, created from that same inspiration. And to add further to the evolutionary mix, this album is also a debut for my new, custom-built, one-of-a-kind instrument I call the "Jazzohorn." I hope you appreciate its smooth tone and unique look!
All in all, I’m convinced that the world of jazz is alive and well, and ever evolving. Thank you for being a part of my artistic journey!
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ILYA SEROV
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ALBUM VIDEOS
ALBUM CREDITS
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Ilya Serov – vocals, trumpet, jazzohorn;
Dave Koz – saxophone;
Greg Manning – piano;
Alex Hahn – saxophone;
Matt Cusson – vocals;
Kay-Ta Matsuno – guitar.
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Produced by Ilya Serov;
Executive Producers: Bobbie and Jim Stovall, Ilya Serov;
Associate Producer: Natalia Staneva;
Recorded by Tom McCauley at B2 Studios; Ken Freeman & Eric Valentine at Chocolate Cave Studios, Los Angeles, CA;
Mixed by Ken Freeman;
Mastered by Steve Hall at Future Disk;
Photography by Tab Salsman & Arina Borodina;
Package Design by Tatiana Gorunov
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1. Just Friends – 3:34 by John Klenner and Sam Lewis (EMI April Music Inc, o/b/o EMI Robbins Catalog Inc.)
Rhythm Arrangement by Kay-Ta Matsuno; Horn Arrangement by Ilya Serov & Kay-Ta Matsuno; Background Vocal Arrangement by Matt Cusson; String Arrangement by Ilya Serov.
Ilya Serov – lead vocal, background vocals, jazzohorn, trumpet, keyboards; Kay-Ta Matsuno – guitar; Greg Manning – keyboards; Alex Hahn – tenor & baritone saxophones; Paul Nowell – trombone; Maurice Ellis – bass; Chad Wright – drums; Ronnie Gutierrez – percussion; Matt Cusson – background vocals.
2. Ironic – 4:50 by Ilya Serov & Kay-Ta Matsuno (Silky Sound Media / BMI)
Rhythm Arrangement by Ilya Serov & Kay-Ta Matsuno; Horn Arrangement by Ilya Serov.
Ilya Serov – trumpet, keyboards; Kay-Ta Matsuno – guitar; Greg Manning – keyboards; Maurice Ellis – bass; Chad Wright – drums; Ronnie Gutierrez – percussion
3. There Will Never Be Another You (feat. Matt Cusson) – 4:23 by Harry Warren & Mack Gordon (Mpl Music Publishing Inc. o/b/o Morley Music Co., Four Jays Music Pub., Mattsam Music)
Rhythm Arrangement by Carnell Harrell and Ilya Serov; Background Vocal Arrangement by Matt Cusson.
Ilya Serov – lead vocal, jazzohorn; Matt Cusson – featured artist (vocal harmonies);
Kay-Ta Matsuno – guitar; Carnell Harrell – keyboards; Nathaniel Kearney Jr. – bass; Eric Valentine – drums; Ronnie Gutierrez – percussion
4. Heat (feat. Dave Koz) – 3:54 by Ilya Serov & Kay-Ta Matsuno (Silky Sound Media / BMI)
Rhythm Arrangement by Ilya Serov, Carnell Harrell; Horn Arrangement by Ilya Serov
Ilya Serov – jazzohorn, keyboards, programming; Dave Koz – featured artist (tenor saxophone); Kay-Ta Matsuno – guitar; Carnell Harrell – keyboards; Nathaniel Kearney Jr – bass; Eric Valentine – drums; Ronnie Gutierrez – percussion
5. Time After Time (feat. Greg Manning) – 3:28 by Jule Styne & Sammy Cahn (Sands Music Corp.)
Rhythm Arrangement by Kay-Ta Matsuno
Ilya Serov – lead vocal, trumpet; Greg Manning – featured artist (piano, keyboards); Kay-Ta Matsuno – guitar; Maurice Ellis – bass; Chad Wright – drums; Ronnie Gutierrez – percussion
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6. Chillin’ – 4:53 by Ilya Serov & Kay-Ta Matsuno (Silky Sound Media / BMI)
Rhythm Arrangement by Ilya Serov & Kay-Ta Matsuno; Horn Arrangement by Ilya Serov
Ilya Serov – trumpet, keyboards, programming; Kay-Ta Matsuno – guitar; Greg Manning – keyboards; Maurice Ellis – bass; Chad Wright – drums; Ronnie Gutierrez – percussion
7. Let’s Get Lost (feat. Alex Hahn) – 3:37 by Jimmy McHugh & Frank Loesser (Sony/ATV Harmony)
Rhythm Arrangement by Kay-Ta Matsuno, Background Vocal Arrangement by Ilya Serov
Ilya Serov – lead vocal, background vocals, trumpet, keyboards; Alex Hahn – featured artist (alto saxophone); Kay-Ta Matsuno – guitar; Greg Manning – keyboards; Maurice Ellis – bass; Chad Wright – drums; Ronnie Gutierrez – percussion
8. My Funny Valentine – 4:59 by Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart (Chappell and Co., Williamson Music)
Rhythm Arrangement by Kay-Ta Matsuno; Horn Arrangement by Ilya Serov
Ilya Serov – trumpet, keyboards; Kay-Ta Matsuno – guitar, drum beat programming; Greg Manning – keyboards; Maurice Ellis – bass; Chad Wright – drums; Ronnie Gutierrez – percussion
9. Everything Happens to Me (feat. Matt Cusson) – 5:01 by Matt Dennis & Tom Adair (Dorsey Brothers Music a Div. of Music Sales Corporation)
Rhythm Arrangement by Kay-Ta Matsuno
Ilya Serov – lead vocal, trumpet; Matt Cusson – featured artist (vocal harmonies); Kay-Ta Matsuno – guitar; Greg Manning – keyboards; Maurice Ellis – bass; Chad Wright – drums; Ronnie Gutierrez – percussion
10. Night in St. Petersburg (feat. Kay-Ta Matsuno) – 4:34 by Kay-Ta Matsuno (Silky Sound Media / BMI)
Rhythm Arrangement by Kay-Ta Matsuno; String & Horn Arrangement by Ilya Serov
Ilya Serov – jazzohorn, keyboards, programming; Kay-Ta Matsuno – featured artist (guitar); Greg Manning – keyboards; Maurice Ellis – bass; Chad Wright – drums; Ronnie Gutierrez – percussion
11. Daybreak – 3:28 by Ferde Grofe & Harold Adamson (EMI Feist Catalog Inc.)
Rhythm Arrangement by Ilya Serov & Carnell Harrell; Horn Arrangement by Ilya Serov; Background Vocal Arrangement by Matt Cusson
Ilya Serov – lead vocal, background vocals, trumpet, jazzohorn; Kay-Ta Matsuno – guitar; Carnell Harrell – keyboards; Alex Hahn – tenor & baritone saxophones; Nathaniel Kearney, Jr. – bass; Eric Valentine – drums; Ronnie Gutierrez – percussion; Matt Cusson – background vocals
© 2021 by Silky Sound, LLC