Swingin’ in from Siberia

Seven musicians from Siberia and one from Costa Mesa are among the

performers who will pack hotel ballrooms at this year’s Orange County

Classic Jazz Festival.

Loyal followers of traditional jazz -- often called Dixieland --

travel the country to see live music from this genre, which has roots

in New Orleans during the first half of the 20th century.

“People come from all over,” said Vince Saunders, a longtime Costa

Mesa resident who plays banjo with the Titanic Jazz Band. “They fly

together, fill up hotels or stay in their RVs. These fans have been

following the bands for many years.”

After a two-year absence, during which the Orange County Classic

Jazz Festival was held in Garden Grove, the four-day event is back in

Costa Mesa this year. The festival began Thursday night and continues

through Sunday at the Hilton Costa Mesa and the Holiday Inn Costa

Mesa.

Although many of the top acts are based in the United States, a

band from Russia has become one of the biggest draws at the festival.

The Siberian Jazz Band comprises seven professional musicians, all

of whom live in Novosibirsk, the largest city in Siberia.

This is the band’s third appearance at the Orange County Jazz

Festival. In 2000, the band’s travel coordinator and interpreter,

Olga Ramer, found the festival by searching for jazz showcases on the

Internet.

“The band was dying to come to the U.S.,” Ramer said.

Her father, saxophonist and band founder Boris Balakhnin, was

introduced to jazz music by his father, who served in the Soviet Army

during World War II. A prisoner of war, Balakhnin’s father was

rescued from a German concentration camp by American soldiers.

The soldiers introduced many of the Soviet soldiers to big band

and swing music. Balakhnin brought the American musical tradition

back to his home country.

“Jazz wasn’t welcomed during the time of the Soviet Union,”

Balakhnin said through an interpreter. “At the beginning, when the

band formed, people were puzzled. They asked what we were playing.

Now, the music is popular at home.”

The band, created 17 years ago, has toured all over the world

since 1991. It has been known to take days-long train rides to attend

festivals. For the Orange County appearance, though, they flew.

Trumpet player Sergei Gershenovich said he prepares for festivals

by keeping his mouthpiece in his mouth on long plane or train rides.

“We are always ready to play,” Gershenovich said through an

interpreter.

The Siberian Jazz Band is playing eight sets at the festival and

one tonight at the Lido Isle Yacht Club.

At this weekend’s event, fans furiously move from one hotel

ballroom to the next, trying to catch the bands, which play

simultaneous one-hour sets in six different rooms.

Eighteen bands, nine of which played last year, vie for attention

at the festival.

John Dieball, president of the Orange County Classic Jazz Festival

and one of its three directors, said about 3,000 people attend the

event each day.

He said the festival was fortunate to raise enough money to bring

Siberian Jazz Band again this year.

“Even though we can’t communicate, we still understand each

other,” Dieball said. “They are great players.”

Over the weekend, the Titanic Jazz Band will debut a song called

“Costa Mesa U.S.A.,” intended to be an unofficial city anthem.

The song lyrics were written by a well-known jazz author and

journalist who put the words to a melody composed in France, Saunders

said.

For most of the weekend, Saunders’ seven-piece band will play

traditional jazz music.

Though the band plays at a dozen shows each year, Saunders said

this festival is one of his favorites because of the proximity to his

home.

“It’s great to listen to all these bands here,” Saunders said.

“It’s true American music.”

IF YOU GO

* WHAT: Sixth Annual Orange County Classic Jazz Festival

* WHEN: Today through Sunday

* WHERE: Hilton Costa Mesa, 3050 Bristol St., Costa Mesa; Holiday

Inn Costa Mesa, 3131 Bristol St.

* COST: $80 for all-events badge; $40 today, $45 Saturday and $35

Sunday for day passes.

* CONTACT: (888) 215-6222

* ELIA POWERS is the enterprise and general assignment reporter.

He may be reached at (714) 966-4623 or by e-mail at

[email protected].