BIO
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).
RECORDINGS
- “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)
COLLECTIVES
Oleg Pissarenko Band
OLEG PISSARENKO BAND
(since 2004):
Oleg Pissarenko / guitar
Raun Juurikas / keyboards
Mihkel Mälgand / bass & double bass
Ahto Abner / drums
5 albums have been released:
The Book’s Burning /2005
Valguse värvid / 2007
Free Child World / 2009
Who Are You / 2012
Point / 2015
Agan - Pissarenko Duo
AGAN – PISSARENKO DUO
(2010-2011):
Ain Agan / electric and fretless guitar
Oleg Pissarenko / acoustic kitarr
Album A2O / 2010
Oleg Pissarenko Trio
OLEG PISSARENKO TRIO
(2002-2012):
Oleg Pissarenko / guitar
Jaak Lutsoja / accordion
Taavo Remmel / double bass, 2004-2012
Ara Yaralyan / double bass, 2002-2004
Album The Little One’s / 2004
Oleg Pissarenko Quartet
OLEG PISSARENKO QUARTET
(2000–2003):
Oleg Pissarenko / guitar
Meelis Unt / saxophone
Taavo Remmel / double bass
Tanel Ruben / drums
Album IXΘYΣ / 2002
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Culture Carrier of Tartu 2012
Honorary title for the selfless promotion of Tartu’s jazz scene.
Estonian Cultural Endowment Fund Music Foundation’s Annual Prize 2013
For promoting Tartu’s jazz music scene.
ERR’S Musician of the Year 2013
The Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR) corporation’s music editors awarded Oleg Pissarenko the title of the Musician of the Year, highlighting his compositions and work in popularizing jazz in Tartu, Narva and smaller cities. In the editors’ opinion, Oleg Pissarenko has a bright and strong personality and he is an outstanding performer, educator, producer and uniter of communities.
University of Tartu Narva College Golden Badge 2016
On the anniversary of the national university, the highest award of UT Narva College – the Golden Badge – was bestowed on Oleg Pissarenko, a musician widely known and much loved throughout the Estonian society, and laureate of Estonian Public Broadcasting Musician of the Year in 2013!
Oleg Pissarenko led the establishment of Narva Jazz Club in Narva College, which organises splendid bi-monthly jazz concerts already for the fourth year in a row. According to Kristina Kallas, the director of Narva College, it is also remarkable that while Narva-born Oleg Pissarenko has settled down elsewhere, he still remains highly devoted to enriching the cultural life of Narva. The highest award of Narva College – the Golden Badge – is bestowed on someone who, while not an employee of Narva College, has nevertheless selflessly contributed to its development.
Order of the White Star, Fifth Class 2018
Oleg Pissarenko – jazz musician and pedagogue
“On the eve of the 100th anniversary of our Republic, we bestow state decorations on individuals whose dedication to their professional work or community has made life better for the entire country.
State decorations are an acknowledgement of the people of Estonia and the country’s supporters abroad for their dedication to their activities as well as their loyalty to the principles upon which contemporary Estonia is founded — openness and democracy, knowledge and entrepreneurship, and caring and noticing.” – Kersti Kaljulaid, President of Estonia
COLLABORATION
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.
