The famous Alvon Johnson, the king of blues from the USA, came to visit us at the Tuvan State Philharmonic.
He will visit Tuva again and become an honorary guest of the Ustuu-Khuree festival.
Article by Marina KENIN-LOPSAN in the Tuvinskaya Pravda newspaper.
This concert was highly anticipated. Many renowned musicians, singers, and jazz enthusiasts gathered at the Tuvan State Philharmonic on May 19th. It was quite symbolic: the “Soviet” Pioneer Day was celebrated within these walls with dignity. Alvon Johnson can rightfully be considered a pioneer, paving the way for other American blues kings to come to Tuva.
We were fortunate to enjoy sounds from a treasured source. This African-American has been performing in Russia for several years now, performing not only in the European part of the country but also far beyond the Urals. He has been heard in Kemerovo, Angarsk, Rostov-on-Don, Moscow, and elsewhere. He is 63 years old (though you wouldn’t think his charming age), arrived in Kyzyl from Stavropol, then went on to Irkutsk, and then on to Moscow.
He’s in excellent shape. And, ignoring the time difference, he arranged for our band, the VSGAKI, to rehearse for hours until three in the morning. As Igor Dulush, director of the Philharmonic and a member of this young group, joked, his hands were black from the strain. There weren’t even any special smoke breaks. As usual, he introduced the guest and his colleagues himself, and wore his invariable black hat. They stuck to tradition.
The musician hails from San Francisco. He not only plays guitar and sings, but also composes music, works as a sound engineer, and is involved in community service, helping cancer patients. Kyzyl residents who attended the event were able to take a souvenir photo with the American and purchase three different CDs of his music.
The bluesman proved to be an excellent joker and performer, with feline grace, moving effortlessly both on stage and in the audience. Some managed to take photos with him, others to shake his hand. He even hopped on one leg—a nod to tradition. Expressive eyes, facial expressions, a dazzling, toothy smile, gestures, short phrases, translated from the wings by renowned musician Sayan Bapa. Even his attire was meticulously crafted: a shimmering silver guitar with the inscription “Alvon,” and silver glittering on his shoes and the sleeves of his dark jacket.
But the guest undoubtedly captivated us with his beautiful music. He sang (he didn’t have a particularly remarkable voice, but it really touched our hearts) and played well-known compositions, as well as ones we were practically unfamiliar with. The audience, whenever they heard recognizable notes, reacted enthusiastically and applauded. They even sang along with the guitarist. They rejoiced when they heard pieces from the repertoire of Duke Ellington or Frank Sinatra. Moreover, they were presented in the musician’s own unique interpretation.
Our band also sounded special; apparently, the performers received a powerful boost from the American during the night rehearsal. The soloists were on point, shining with virtuoso skill, and everyone was in the mood, eager to give the audience a jazzy celebration. They clapped their hands, moved with their instruments, and at the end, they threw off their jackets and twirled them over their heads. Even the dim blue smoky lighting created a certain rhythm to the reception. Emotions were running high. And the audience was sparkling, and how—over 1000 volts! The upper circle, as usual, screamed louder than the rest. The guest managed to get everyone dancing. He rocked it!
The emotional Sofia Kara-ool, who has a special love for jazz, didn’t miss a beat. She interpreted a Tuvan melody in this style, and created a fiery duet with the king of blues in “Stormy Monday.” Yes, it was quite a storm…
The songs were about simple and eternal things. Love, blue skies, loved ones, cities… The audience truly felt “Swing Machine,” “New York, New York,” and “Slow Blues.” And some truly understood what “Take Me to the Moon” meant.
And we actually visited the night light, in a fairy tale that became reality thanks to Alvon Johnson and our band.
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