Critics have praised NY-based pianist/composer Vadim Neselovskyi for “extraordinary playing” (Los Angeles Times), “exceptional composition skills” (musicweb-international.com) and “feathery touch” (New York Times). While mostly known as one of the key members of multiple GRAMMY® winner Gary Burton’s Quintet, and as a featured pianist and composer on Burton’s Concord Records release “Next Generation,” Vadim is rapidly gaining reputation as a band leader, creating a “thrilling blend of classical and jazz” (jazzreview.com)

Vadim grew up in Odessa, Ukraine, where he was the youngest student to be accepted into the famous Odessa Conservatory, and then moved to Dortmund, Germany when he was 17 years old. Shortly after arriving in Germany, he established himself on the local jazz scene, taking part in the Dusseldorf Jazz Rally and Leipzig Jazz Days. After a few years he moved to the USA to further his studies at Berklee College of Music, where he was discovered by Gary Burton.

Before graduating from Berklee Vadim was asked to play and compose for a Berklee’s promotional recording produced by Pat Metheny. Four weeks after graduation he was playing with Gary Burton at the Blue Note in New York. Since June 2004 Vadim has been consistently touring the US, Europe and Japan in Gary Burton’s quintet.

Besides working actively as a sideman, Vadim is developing a name for himself as a solo artist. His CD “Spring Song,” that features two charismatic singers Vera Westera(NL) and Amanda Baisinger (US), received enthusiastic reviews.

“The four musicians around Neselovskyi, Brazilian Pedro Ito (drums,percussion), Russian Oleg Osenkov on bass, American Eric Bloom (trumpet) and heart-breaking voice of Amanda Baisinger (also USA) offer a skillful, multifaceted – accessible, challenging yet entertaining mixture of jazz, classical and world music. This is jazz, how it should be – sometimes neck-breaking angular, sometimes wonderfully melodic and always supported by the grooving bass…the feminine voice of Amanda Baisinger often reaches whirling heights and speeds. Everything fits to the sparkling piano sound of Neselovskyi.” (www.cdkritik.de)

Vadim’s work has been recognized with a number of recent awards. Most recently, in September 2010 he was named a Grand Prize Winner of the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Composers Competition. Vadim performed the winning composition, Grust (Sadness) with his trio at the Kennedy Center on Ocotober 4, 2010 as part of the Gala Concert, also featuring Herbie Hancock, Kurt Elling and Dianne Reeves. President Obama and Mrs. Michelle Obama served as Honorary Chairs of the event.

“Garnering the $10,000 prize for his composition "Grust," which means ‘sadness' in Russian, Neselovskyi impressed with both the depth of his composition and a heartrending performance that stood out as an unquestionable highlight of the night.” (All About Jazz)

Just two weeks after the Prize Award Ceremony in Washington DC Vadim received another Award – Second Grand Prix (7.000 Euro) at the 5th Martial Solal International Jazz Piano Competition in Paris, France.

Press and Quotes


“…an extremely creative and wonderful composer…an exciting, original kind of player.”
Gary Burton

“Vadim Neselovskyi writes and plays graceful music with intelligence and passion. We all look forward to hearing much more from him, as he ventures further down the singular road he has found.”
Steve Swallow

“…extraordinary playing…”
Don Heckman, Los Angeles Times

“Vadim…sounds the most promising of the young improvisers.”
The Guardian

“…likely to become prominent names in jazz: guitarist Julian Lage and Ukraine-bred pianist Vadim Neselovskyi.”
Washington Post

“…his solos are passionate and brilliantly improvised. And through his background of classical training, he has developed exceptional composition skills.”
Musicweb-International.com

“Neselovskyi’s a remarkable pianist: Ukrainian-born, raised partly in Germany, at home with blues, funk, and Latin, with an extra Middle European dimension. Neselovskyi may be the decisive individuating presence.”
John R.Calder, All About Jazz

“Pianist Vadim Neselovskyi is a player and composer and equally adept on both sides of the talent.”
Jazz Society of Oregon

“…dominant voice…manifested by a characteristic ability to find the perfect phrase, the most fitting harmonic conceit.”
John Kellman, All About Jazz

“More than just a strong pianist, he’s a composer who blends form and freedom in new ways.”
John Kellman, All About Jazz

“Vadim Neselovskyi…has a precise touch as soloist and composer’s ear for arrangement.”
Popmatters.com

“pianistic power station … new jazz … Virtousity coupled with passion and soul … his own language … ”
Neue Musik Zeitung