Hosted by the seaport of Arkhangelsk, which is home to many signature jazz masters, ARCTIC OPEN will be delighting its audience with Port City Music sessions and performances by Sweet Hot Jazz Band (St. Petersburg). Sweet Hot Jazz Band and its frontman Vova Che Morale are perhaps St. Petersburg’s most stirring jazz band. Regular guests on music shows, social events, city venues, palace- and theater-hosted performances, and cozy music bars, Sweet Hot Jazz Band inspire audiences with their enthusiastic renditions of the popular retro tunes of the 1920s-1950s.

The band’s frontman Vova Che Morale is often described as a charismatic artist with original flair of a rock musician. A singer and trumpet player, his hot temperament and flawless vocal improvisation earned him a nickname “St. Petersburg’s Louis Armstrong”. From old iconic tunes to pieces he composed in the 21st century, a performance by Vova Che Morale is a captivating journey through time.

Vova Che Morale’s talks between songs are more like a hilarious standup with funny, touching setups and punchlines that may sound paradoxical to some. The emotions Vova bestows generously on his audience will make you want to join in with his songs. His shows are always spontaneous, with a whole room singing along as one.

With a repertoire of masterfully performed songs recognizable and understandable to people of all ages, Sweet Hot Jazz Band has gained a firm ground as an entertaining jazz band. Their own songs fit in the classic jazz program just seamlessly, giving it a modern flavor. They play the jazz you want to dance to, and the way they interact and drive the show won’t leave indifferent even the most sophisticated of the audiences.

You have to see it, feel it, and say, “Remember this moment.” Apart from playing during the festival days in Arkhangelsk and Severodvinsk, Sweet Hot Jazz Band will be hosting a jazz singing session for the local music students.