Características
Born in Leningrad in 1948, jazz pianist Vladimir Shafranov began playing the piano and violin at the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory at the tender age of four. In 1973, he moved to Israel and a few years later to Helsinki, where he became a Finnish citizen. In 1983, he moved to New York, where he played with many of the best jazz musicians, including Art Farmer, Stan Getz, Chet Baker, George Coleman, Ron Carter, Dizzy Gillespie, and Al Foster. He has lived on the Åland Islands since 1998 and tours Japan regularly. His recordings for Venus Records enjoy cult status. Shafranov's new trio album, recorded with Hans Backenroth on bass and Moussa Fadera on drums, scores above all with its lyricism and the expansive musical nuances it expresses. “Soul Eyes: Relaxin' Moods” contains nine fascinating pieces, including rhythmic tracks such as “Ternura Antigua” and “You've Changed,” the beautiful “Soul Eyes” and the balladic “Django.”
“Soul Eyes: Relaxin' Moods” was recorded on June 2 and 3, 2025, at RMV Studio in Stockholm, Sweden and mixed and mastered by legendary sound engineer Tetsuo Hara.
Venus Records was founded in Japan in 1992 by Tetsuo Hara, who previously worked as a producer for RCA Victor. The prestigious label uses a special mastering process called “Hyper Magnum Sound” for the strictly limited double LP of “Dear Old Stockholm”. The records are cut at 33 RPM and pressed on 180-gram vinyl, which produces a powerful, present sound and is highly appreciated by audiophiles worldwide. A quick note: Venus LPs are only pressed once! Once the edition is sold out, the title is removed from the catalog and will not be reissued. Collectors should therefore not wait too long to place their orders: all releases of the “Venus Masterpiece Collection” are extremely popular!
LP 1
Side A
1. Beautiful Love
2. Soul Eyes
Side B
1. Ternura Antigua
2. What A Wonderful World
3. Out Of The Past
LP 2
Side C
1. Too Late Now
2. Lush Life
Side D
1. Django
2. You've Changed