Oleg Pissarenko is an Estonian guitarist, composer, band leader and producer, who is also known as a well-spoken and charismatic stage artist.

“We need something living and we need something true. And Oleg’s concerts give you both.” – Vello Vikerkaar

“Pissarenko’s work and his presence are shot through with this inexplicable something that I value the most in music and musicians.” – Mart Niineste

“The concert struck me as an encounter with something great and unknown, yet, with a liberating rather than oppressive effect.” – Ivo Heinloo

“This music has an impact on people.” – Immo Mihkelson

Oleg Pissarenko, creator of distinctive cross-genre instrumental music, was born on the 8th of July, 1978 in Narva. He has authored 8 albums and collaborated with many other well-known artists. Pissarenko has performed on stages and festivals in Estonia, Denmark, Sweden, France, the Netherlands, Finland, Russia, Ukraine, Latvia and Lithuania.

Pissarenko’s music has been classified in various ways, ranging from jazz-minimalism to post-rock, hypnagogic ambient to meditative folk, 1970’s-style instrumental rock to post-punk. His soundscapes have been descibed as “music in its simplicity and naturalness“, “slowly-blooming joy”, “light-nirvana”, “translucent jazz” and “something beyond music”.

With his visionary leadership, Oleg Pissarenko has founded IDeeJazz, a jazz and rhythm music festival held in Tartu and Narva; the cultural venues of Tartu Jazz Club and Narva Jazz Club; and a program of rhythm music education in Heino Eller Tartu Music College.

Oleg Pissarenko was named the Musician of the Year 2013 by the Estonian Public Broadcasting.

In 2018, the president of the Republic of Estonia decorated Oleg Pissarenko with the Order of the White Star (Fifth Class).

• “IXΘYΣ” (ARM Music 2002) / Oleg Pissarenko Quartet, special guest Ain Agan
• “THE LITTLE ONE’ S” (MT Holding 2004) / Oleg Pissarenko Trio, Deniss Pashkevics, Andre Maaker, Taavo Remmel and string quartet Noobel Nelik, special guest Hedvig Hanson
• “THE BOOK’ S BURNING” (MT Holding 2005) / Oleg Pissarenko Band, Jaak Lutsoja and Deniss Pashkevics, special guest Hedvig Hanson
• “VALGUSE VÄRVID” (MT Holding 2007) / Oleg Pissarenko Band, Jaak Lutsoja and Deniss Pashkevics, special guest Tõnis Mägi
• “PRII LAPSE ILM : FREE CHILD WORLD” (Pissarenko 2009) / Oleg Pissarenko Band
• “A2O” (Agan/Pissarenko 2010)/ duo with Ain Agan
• “KES SA OLED / WHO ARE YOU” (Pissarenko 2012) / Oleg Pissarenko Band
• “POINT” (Pissarenko Productions 2015) / Oleg Pissarenko Band

Other recordings

• “Mi Tango en Buenos Aires”, Villu Veski,  NordicSounds meets Pipi Piazzolla (Tutl 2005)
• “What Color Is Love”, Hedvig Hanson (Emarcy / Universal 2003)
• “Laulud Hingest”, Revalia Kammermeeskoor (Global Music Group 2003)
• “Kuu Lõhn“, Siiri Sisask (Su Music 2005)

Pissarenko has collaborated with many other musicians and creative people, such as the singer Hedvig Hanson, guitarist Andre Maaker, actor Guido Kangur, drummer Daniel Pipi Piazzolla and saxophonist Deniss Pashkevics. He has participated in the projects Tango Nuevo (DVD 2003, Villu Veski and Tiit Kalluste), Laulud hingest (CD 2003, Hirvo Surva and Siiri Sisask) and given many concerts with the legendary Estonian singer Tõnis Mägi.

Oleg Pissarenko has also worked as an arranger. His instrumental and vocal arrangements have been sung and recorded by the Estonian National Youth Symphony Orchestra, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, Revalia Male Chamber Choir, vocal ensemble Noorkuu, string quartet Noobel Nelik, as well as Kersti Ala-Murr, Jaak Lutsoja, Tõnu Jõesaar and Lilian Jõesaar, Margarita Voites, Tõnis Mägi, Kait Tamra and Siiri Sisask. Three Oleg Pissarenko’s arrangements were performed at the X youth song and dance celebration in 2007 with over 35,000 performing singers, dancers and instrumentalists: the folk tunes Haanja miis and Õekesed ellale, as well as Kait Tamra’s Kodu.

In the photo below: Tartu Jazz Club Opening in 2012, from left to right Oleg Pissarenko, Lembit Saarsalu and Urmas Kruuse, photo by Kalev Ints.