Born in St. Petersburg, Russia to a Ukrainian father and Russian mother, award-winning jazz saxophonist and Medfield resident Anton Derevyanko was determined to find ways to support loved ones affected by the war in Ukraine.
Tapping into his talents and jazz network, Derevyanko has organized two back-to-back, 75-minute live benefit concerts on Saturday, March 26 at the Zullo Gallery, located at 456A Main Street, Medfield. The first concert will begin at 6 p.m.; the second concert will start at 8 p.m. Doors will open 15 minutes before each start time.
Ticket cost is a minimum donation of $20 per person, and each show is limited to 50 attendees, with each person guaranteed a seat (location determined on a first-come, first-served basis).
To purchase tickets, visit Zullogallery.org or www.tiny.cc/zullojazzukraine. Concert proceeds will benefit Razom (razomforukraine.org), a long-standing, non-profit organization founded by Ukrainians and based in New York. Razom is currently raising money to purchase urgently needed medical supplies and restock hospitals all over the country.
In addition to Derevyanko (saxophone), the band will include Ilya Blazh (drums), Mitch Selib (guitar), Alexei Tsiganov (piano), Matt Stavrakas (bass) and Arina Bagaryakova (vocals). Like Derevyanko, Blazh, Tsiganov and Bagaryakova are from Russia and have deep ties to Ukraine. “These past three weeks have left me stunned,” said Derevyanko, a graduate of Berklee College of Music and Berklee Global Jazz Institute, and a Medfield High School Jazz Band alumnus. “I never thought this would happen; nobody did. The footage is hard to watch, and the stories are hard to hear. But many of my friends and colleagues are doing everything in their power to help - that’s a beautiful thing to witness.”
