MAKAR KASHITSYN

Veteran alto saxophone virtuoso Vincent Herring who had given Kashitsyn several Skype lessons — invited the youngster to play on two selections. After the gig, Herring encouraged Kashitsyn to enroll Manhattan School of Music, where Herring teaches. The young saxophonist took his advice and enrolled there as a freshman during the 2017-18 academic year. A year later, one academic term at MSM under his belt, Kashitsyn entered — and earned first prize in —  the first International Festival Competition of Saxophonists in Ekaterinburg, Russia. Around this time, he played some of his songs in a band led by a French alto saxophonist then gigging in Russia with Mashin on drums. Mashin wrote Kashitsyn a complimentary note, and they stayed in touch. Meanwhile, Kashitsyn was planning a tour with Lefkowitz-Brown, who had taught him privately in New York. Encouraged by Mashin, Kashitsyn decided to record Jazz Animals. from https://lydialiebman.com