The personality of Leonid Osipovich Utesov is extremely versatile. He was a brilliant actor, singer, conductor, organizer and an outstanding storyteller. Utesov's talent was extremely versatile. Such people often become pioneers of new directions in art and science, like Bach, Shostakovich and Ellington in music. Jazz is open to any influence, be it folklore, academic music, or the visual arts.
Childhood and youth
Leonid Utesov (his real name is Lazar Iosifovich Vaysbein) was born in 1895 in Odessa into a Jewish family. His father was a small business owner and his mother was a housewife. Young Utesov began his education at a commercial school in Odessa, but dropped out of school and became an actor. At the age of 15 he joined the troupe of the Borodanov circus as an acrobat. In 1911 he began his acting career as a comedian in Kremenchug. In 1912 he returned to Odessa and chose his stage name - Leonid Utesov. In 1913 he joined the Rosanov troupe and also performed with the Richelieu Theater. Touring with the troupe from city to city, and actively participating in theatrical performances, with the help of his natural talent, Utesov quickly became a real professional. In 1917, Utyosov won a singing competition in Gomel, and then formed his first troupe for a tour in Moscow. There he performed regularly at the Hermitage Theater and established himself as a popular singer in Moscow.
In 1919, Utyosov made his debut in the film “Lieutenant Schmidt the Fighter for Freedom.” In 1923, Leonid Osich and his family moved to Petrograd. At that time, the city on the Neva became a center of experimental art. palace theater.
Utesov and jazz
In the late 1920s, Utesov heard the music of Jack Hilton and Ted Lewis, which amazed him with its variety of arrangements and became the love of his life. Now Utesov could not imagine his life without jazz. At the end of 1928, Utyosov set about realizing his dream. A few months later, he gathered together talented musicians, with whom he recorded his first program. On March 8, 1929, a new jazz group made its debut on the stage of the Leningrad Small Opera House. The success of this concert was overwhelming.
The next program of the orchestra "Jazz at the Bend" included melodies created by the famous composer Dunaevsky especially for the Utesov orchestra. These were jazz variations of classical music and four rhapsodies. Leonid Osipovich and his jazz group masterfully mastered many styles of popular music and combined the spirit and rhythm of American jazz and Argentine tango, as well as the sensuality of French chanson and the lyrical sophistication of Italian songs. At this time, Leonid Utesov and his jazz group gained immense popularity and became the most demanded artists in Leningrad and Moscow.
But the decisive moment that changed the principled approach of Utyosov to the song was the creation of the radio station "Cheerful fellows", where for the first time such famous works of Isaac Dunaevsky as "Heart" and "March of the cheerful fellows. The film" Cheerful Guys "(1934, director Grigory Alexandrov), in which Leonid Utyosov played the main role with his group, was a great success. At this time he was joined by the daughter of Leonid Utesov Edith Utesova, who became the female vocal of the orchestra. She began performing with the orchestra in 1934. Her repertoire included: lyric "Mystery”,“Portrait”,“Ray of Hope”and“Good Night”, patriotic“Cossack Song”and“March of the Red Fleet”, satirical“Marquis”and many other songs from the repertoire of the Utesov orchestra.
They soon became the most popular jazz orchestra in the country. The technique of the group grew rapidly and soon reached the highest level, the arrangements became more complex and sophisticated.
During the Second World War, the orchestra continued its concert activities on the front line. Utesov with his jazz band performed on the forefront, and his performances were insanely popular with grateful listeners. The musicians donated money from their royalties for the construction of aircraft to fight the Nazis. Into the new program "Beat the enemy!" included many new songs written by young composers Nikita Bogoslovsky, Arkady Ostrovsky and Mark Fradkin.
In the late 1940s and early 50s, many creative people in the Soviet Union were persecuted. This fate did not escape Utesov, he was ostracized by the censorship and banned from public speaking. The ban lasted until 1956, when the "Khrushchev thaw" began.
In the 50s, 60s and 70s, Utyosov performed every year with hundreds of concerts throughout the Soviet Union and abroad. All concerts are sold out. Their work was loved by all segments of the population, from ordinary hard workers to party functionaries. His jazz orchestra became a school for many young musicians who studied under Leonid Osipovich and became prominent figures in Soviet show business.
In 1965, Utesov received the title of People's Artist of the USSR.
Leonid Utesov died on March 9, 1982 and was buried at the Novodevichy cemetery in Moscow.
