Maria Tarasevich is a bold person. She has never been afraid of trying out new things. She was the first Russian model to become a Playmate of the month. However, a Playboy photo session was just one episode in her mainly jazz oriented career.

The main street in Moscow is Tverskaya. Every capital resident will tell you that. The most Tverskoy, i.e. central and fashionable is the Gorky restaurant. On November 19th it will celebrate its 3rd anniversary.

Igor Butman, a leading Russian jazzman, spotted Maria Tarasevich, a Russian Playboy Playmate, at her performance with the orchestra of legendary Anatoly Kroll. Their mutual creative aspirations led to recording a CD. Maria is performing jazz compositions by Gershwin, Porter and Gillespie, adding her own charm and love for the genre to the classic sound of jazz.

This is to some extent a protectionist project. Leading Russian musicians participated in the solo CD of Maria Tarasevich, a young and charming singer, who started in Big Band with Anatoly Kroll at the age of 19. The main “guardian” of the talented singer is of course Igor Butman, a ubiquitous Russian jazzmen, irreplaceable saxophone player at all beau-monde events. The first mutual project of Tarasevich and Butman is a selection of classical and old compositions of world jazz favorites. Masha performed even the legendary Besame Mucho, in a mysterious and soulful manner, as well as the beautiful melody by Johnny Mercer Autumn Leaves. Classic jazz melodies by Dizzy Gillespie, Koll Porter and George Gershwin were not left behind.

Russian jazzmen very rarely make CDs. This is even more true for leading performers, so any jazz release with a decent circulation is a real event.

Igor Butman and Mariya Tarasevich recorded a non-traditional jazz CD. The CD title MOONDANCE speaks for itself. It's clear why it is a “dance” – stunning Maria Tarasevich engages the best tenor – saxophone player of the country. B

Mariya Tarasevich is one of the best Russian jazz singers, who became a soloist of the legendary Big Band of Anatoly Kroll. She took part in grand jazz festivals in Montreux and Paris, recordings for CDs of major Russian musicians and even a photo session for Playboy. Since 1990 Maria has been working with the big band of Igor Butman. The legendary musician helped Maria with her first solo jazz CD, which is claiming to be one of the most interesting albums of the year. The strong and clear voice of Tarasevich and a magic saxophone by Butman stay within the jazz standards with reasonable conservatism. The CD is complemented with keys by such noted musicians as Anton Baronin and Aleksey Bekker.

We know that Igor Butman is a virtuoso saxophone player, a wonderful figure skater and may be up for the Guinness Book of Records for playing at VIP parties. Maria Tarasevich also has many talents. She is a jazz singer, a model and a young mother. Two these unique people created a CD of jazz, pop and Latino standards, which can be used for sound design in any interior – from a VIP lounge to a student hostel. Slow and medium tempo arrangements are particularly good.