Estrada Orchestra - Jazzbeatjäätis (2017)

“A psychedelic jazz monster from stone cold Estonia” – Frank Raines, Funk Night Recs Forerunners of underground Estonian jazz-funk since 2013, Estrada Orchestra is a 5-piece based in Tallinn. Loosely defined genre borders situate the group of master improvisers into equal parts psychedelic grooves and avant-garde. Although names like Herbie Hancock and Mulatu Astatke pop into mind, the list of kindred spirits of Estrada is far and beyond to find. Established producer and bass player Misha Panfilov brings his expertise in film music, deep funk and Eastern Bloc obscurities while Volodja Brodsky smooths things out with fusion influences behind the Clavinet and Rhodes. Both composers are equally obsessed with all that’s jazz. Flutist Ilja Gussarov, the solist and shaman of the bunch, orchestrates the crowd into a tribe with a vibe that shines in a live setting. Sashko Petrov on tenor sax and percussion adds the slick soul of a vagabonder to the recipe. Madis Katkosilt of provides a solid backbone with heavy beats and just the right amount of crunch on the drums.

“‘Jazzbeatjäätis’ really reminds me of Hancock’s ‘Mwandashi’ or ‘Sextant’ era with Bennie Maupin.” - Alain Mion, Cortex
After their self-named début album flew off the shelves in 2015, Estrada Orchestra puts out their 2nd LP “JAZZBEATJÄÄTIS” in 2017 via French imprint Stereophonk. Having gigged in Tallinn Music Week, Positivus and numerous festivals in Estonia the jam band is ready to take on the international stage with support from the likes of Shawn Lee, Greg Foat and Alain Mion.