| Misha Alperin | |
| Birth Name: | Michail Jefimowitsch Alperin |
| Alias: | Misha Alperin |
| Birth Date: | 7 November 1956 |
| Birth Place: | Kamianets-Podilskyi, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union |
| Death Place: | Oslo, Norway |
| Background: | temporary |
| Instrument: | Piano |
| Genre: | Jazz |
| Occupation: | Musician, composer |
Michail Jefimowitsch Alperin (Ukrainian: Миха́йло Юхи́мович Альпе́рін; 7 November 1956 – 11 May 2018), usually credited as Misha Alperin, was a Soviet-Norwegian jazz pianist, known as a key member of the Moscow Art Trio.[1] [2]
Alperin was born in Kamianets-Podilskyi, Ukrainian SSR to a Jewish family. He was educated in Khmelnytskyi, Bălți and Chișinău. In 1980, he formed one of the first jazz ensembles in Moldavian SSR.[3] He moved to Moscow in the 1980s and founded the Moscow Art Trio with Arkady Shilkloper and folk singer Sergey Nikolaevich Starostin.[2] He has also worked with Huun Huur Tu. From 1993 to 2018 he lived in Oslo, Norway; he was professor of music at the Norwegian Academy of Music and he supervised pianist Helge Lien and Morten Qvenild among others. He released several works on ECM Records.[1] [4] He died on 11 May 2018 at the age of 61.
An asterisk (*) indicates that the year is that of release.
| Year recorded | Title | Label | Personnel/Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Wave of Sorrow | ECM | Duo, co-led with Arkady Shilkloper (French horn, jagdhorn, fluegelhorn, vocals) | |
| 1992 | Folk Dreams | Jaro Medien | ||
| 1993 | The Blue Fjords | RDM | Solo piano; reissued as Blue Fjord by Jaro Medien | |
| 1996* | Hamburg Concert | Jaro Medien Moscow Art Trio | ||
| 1996* | Prayer | Jaro Medien Moscow Art Trio | ||
| 1997 | First Impression | ECM | With John Surman (soprano sax, baritone sax), Arkady Shilkloper (French horn, flugelhorn), Terje Gewelt (bass), Jon Christensen (drums), Hans-Kristian Kjos Sørensen (percussion) | |
| 1998 | North Story | ECM | Quintet, with Arkady Shilkloper (French horn, fluegelhorn), Tore Brunborg (tenor sax), Terje Gewelt (bass), Jon Christensen (drums) | |
| 1998 | At Home | ECM | Solo piano | |
| 1998 | Night | ECM | Trio, with Anja Lechner (cello), Hans-Kristian Kjos Sørensen (percussion, marimba, vocals); in concert | |
| 2000* | Overture/Etude | Boheme | ||
| 2000* | Piano | Boheme | In concert | |
| 2000* | Portrait | Jaro Medien | ||
| 2006 | Her First Dance | ECM | Trio, with Arkady Shilkloper (French horn, fluegelhorn), Anja Lechner (cello) |
2008 — Moscow Art Trio & Norwegian Chamber Orchestra «Village Variations» (JARO 4290-2) Germany
2009 — Moscow Art Trio «Live in Holland» (CDDOMA 091102) Russia; (JARO 4302-2) Germany
2010 — The Bulgarian Voices Angelite with Huun-Huur-Tu & Moscow Art Trio «Legend» (JARO 4300-2) Germany