Five years ago, the premiere of our film Trojan Jazz took place at the Perun Cinema in Irpin, Ukraine.
Irpin was chosen for the screening for a reason. The city is tied to a unique story that inspired one of the film’s episodes. At the center of this story is Hryhoriy Fedkin, a talented Ukrainian flutist and a resident of Irpin. His remarkable journey began in 1962 when Benny Goodman, during his tour of the USSR, unexpectedly visited Kyiv’s radio station after a concert. Known as the King of Swing, Goodman wanted to record Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto with the radio committee’s orchestra. After performing, he expressed his gratitude to the orchestra and decided to give a unique gift: “I would like to present a gold flute to the principal flutist. Who is your first flutist?”That musician was Hryhoriy Fedkin. However, the story did not end there. The next day, Fedkin was summoned by the chairman of the committee for broadcasting and television, who demanded he hand over the flute to the orchestra’s fund, claiming it was intended for the ensemble. Fedkin refused, stating the flute had been given to him personally. This refusal cost him his job—he was dismissed from the orchestra. It is said that Fedkin later earned his living repairing musical instruments and occasionally playing at funerals.During the making of the film, we located Fedkin’s children and spoke with Vyacheslav Busel, who knew him during those years. Their memories helped us reconstruct this extraordinary story.Scenes filmed in Irpin captured the city, including the central square adorned with sculptures of musicians. Among them was the figure of a flutist. Today, these scenes hold a tragic resonance: in 2022, Irpin endured occupation by Russian forces, becoming a symbol of courage and resistance.Trojan Jazz draws parallels between past and present. It reminds us that Russia’s war against Ukraine is not just a struggle over territory but a clash of two value systems: a totalitarian past and a free future. A banner on Kyiv’s Maidan Square reading “Freedom is our religion” starkly contrasts with the Russian reality, where art remains under the control of those who uphold the methods of the KGB.This film is not only about music but also about the strength of the human spirit, which continues to inspire even in the darkest times.
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