Photo by Arina Borodina | Graphic Design by Tatiana Gorunov

ILYA SEROV’S NEW SINGLE HEAT HITS THE WAVES

COLLABORATION FEATURES SAX GREAT DAVE KOZ

“HEAT really has all the ingredients to become a smash hit in this format…”

-Dave Koz

 

(Los Angeles) Trumpeter Ilya Serov has released his new original single HEAT this month, featuring platinum-selling saxophonist Dave Koz. 

HEAT is a refreshingly youthful, original composition rooted in contemporary jazz, R&B and funk. While the single was conceived intuitively and on the spur of the moment, it took almost a decade to produce.

“Having been born and raised in Russia and spending so much time in the chilly northern city of St. Petersburg, I couldn’t get enough of the warm weather when I first came to California,” said Serov. “The palm trees, outdoor lifestyle, and music of so many diverse cultures were invigorating, and HEAT was conceived right then and there. However, it took many years of experimenting with styles to find my own voice and interpretation. I collaborated with fellow composer and talented guitarist Kay-Ta Matsuno to complete the single. I also included a number of percussion instruments as a nod to Latin and Caribbean music, which to me connote energy, passion, and the hot, sunny weather that inspired the composition.” 

HEAT follows Serov’s original instrumental single, Chillin’, released in August 2020. It marks a new direction for the young artist, who is well known for his famous renditions of songs from the Big Band Era. Although his last two albums consisted of big band, swing, and straight-ahead jazz, Serov has always been an imaginative alchemist who has experimented with contemporary jazz, R&B, pop, and world music, as well. 

The new track has an incredible lineup of musicians, and features saxophone great Dave Koz. “One of the highlights of the last decade for me has been my opportunity to collaborate with this amazing artist, whom I’ve admired for many years. It has been a dream come true,” exclaimed Serov. In a recording career that spans nearly three decades, Koz has racked up an astoundingly impressive array of honors and achievements: nine GRAMMY® nominations, 11 No. 1 albums on Billboard’s Current Contemporary Jazz Albums chart, numerous world tours, 13 sold-out Dave Koz & Friends at Sea cruises, performances for multiple U.S. Presidents, a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and appearances on a multitude of television shows. 

Said Koz of HEAT: “This new single is Ilya’s first real contemporary jazz song, and it is so good. He asked me to play on it and I said, ‘Yes, please!’ HEAT really has all the ingredients to become a smash hit in this format… a great groove, a fantastic melody, great musicianship, and at the core of all of it is Ilya’s trumpet. He’s such an amazing player.”

Renowned UK trumpet maker Andy Taylor, who specializes in building unique, quality trumpets, custom built a new horn for Serov. Together they designed an instrument based on a flugelhorn with the shape of a saxophone, which Serov dubbed the “Jazzohorn.”

“The idea of redesigning trumpets was common in the 1920s. I really like the warm, soft tone of the trumpet and I knew I wanted an instrument with similar qualities,” said Serov. “While my new Jazzohorn has the warmth of the flugelhorn, it also has a unique, breathy quality. A bonus feature is that it looks like a saxophone, which I always wanted to play, so the Jazzohorn gets me closer to that childhood aspiration,” he joked. 

Along with Serov and Koz, other notable musicians on HEAT are guitarist Kay-ta Matsuno, keyboardist Carnell Harrell, bassist Nathaniel Kearney Jr., percussionist Ronnie Gutierrez and drummer Eric Valentine.

About the Artist: An award-winning trumpeter, guitarist and vocalist, Ilya Serov began studying classical trumpet early-on, honing his skills at the prestigious St. Petersburg Conservatory of Music and performing with St. Petersburg’s symphony orchestras and the state opera theatre.  His musical world was expanded dramatically when Serov discovered American jazz as a teen, and it quickly became his passion. 

Serov’s two original contemporary jazz singles, Chillin’ and HEAT, are a departure from his 2013 successful debut album of jazz standards, September in the Rain. A year later, he was named Best New Artist at the Hollywood International Music Awards. His second album, Back in Time, was released in 2018 as an homage to the Big Band Era. It featured the artist’s smooth trumpet playing and unique vocal style, and included collaborations with Grammy-winning percussionist Poncho Sanchez, renowned pianist Roger Kellaway, and acclaimed sax player Eric Marienthal.

For the past several years, Serov has participated in well-known and highly-respected music festivals including the Catalina Jazz Festival and the Newport Beach Jazz Festival. He has also traveled with the Dave Koz & Friends at Sea jazz cruise, sharing the stage with such greats as Peter White, Larry Graham, Jonathan Butler, and Michael Lington. 

HEAT Credits: Main artist (Jazzohorn, keyboards) Ilya Serov; featured guest artist (saxophone) Dave Koz; written by Ilya Serov and Kay-Ta Matsuno (Silky Sound Media, BMI); produced by Ilya Serov; arranged by Ilya Serov and Carnell Harrell; recorded and mixed by Ken Freeman; mastered by Steve Hall. Record Label – Silky Sound Records. 

HEAT is available on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, Pandora and YouTube. Please visit www.ilyaserov.comfor further information.

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