Vadim Neselovskyi

Ukrainian pianist, composer, and educator Vadim Neselovskyi is a lyrical and sophisticated performer with a sound steeped in the classical and post-bop jazz traditions. Based in New York City, he has garnered attention for his work with vibraphonist Gary Burton, with whom he has performed and arranged since 2004. Along with teaching as Professor of Jazz Piano at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Neselovskyi has also released his own albums, including 2007′s small-group date Spring Song and the Fred Hersch-produced Music for September. In 2022, he paid homage to his hometown with the poignant solo piano date Odesa.
Born in 1977 in Odesa, Ukraine, Neselovskyi was one of the youngest students ever to be accepted into the prestigious Odesa Conservatory at age 15. Two years later, he moved to Dortmund, Germany, where he launched his jazz career, performing locally and participating in festivals like the Düsseldorf Jazz Rally and Leipzig Jazz Days. He eventually relocated to the United States and continued his studies, first at Boston’s Berklee College of Music and finally on a full scholarship at the Thelonious Monk Institute. While at the institute, Neselovskyi played in an ensemble mentored by luminaries including Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, and Terence Blanchard. He also toured, performing with artists like Dee Dee Bridgewater, Terri Lyne Carrington, John Scofield, Kurt Rosenwinkel, and others. Since 2004, Neselovskyi has worked regularly as pianist and arranger with vibraphonist Gary Burton’s ensembles, appearing on both 2005′s Next Generation and 2011′s Common Ground.
As a solo artist, Neselovskyi made his debut with 2007′s Spring Song, a quintet recording featuring Amanda Baisinger, Eric Bloom, Oleg Osenkov, and Pedro Ito. He returned in 2013 with Music for September, a lyrical solo piano album produced by veteran pianist Fred Hersch. The trio album Get Up and Go arrived in 2017 and found him working with drummer Ronen Itzik, bassist Dan Loomis, and guest vocalist Sara Serpa. There were also equally engaging collaborations with horn player Arkady Shilkloper, pianist Craig Taborn, drummer Christian Finger, and more. When not performing, Neselovskyi teaches, holding the position of Professor of Jazz Piano at Berklee College of Music in Boston. In 2022, he paid tribute to his hometown with Odesa, a ruminative and poetic solo piano album featuring compositions inspired by Ukrainian landmarks like the Odesa Railway Station, Potemkin Stairs, and Odesa Conservatory. ~ Matt Collar