Introduction
Michail Jefimowitsch Alperin (Ukrainian: Миха́йло Юхи́мович Альпе́рін; 7 November 1956 – 11 May 2018) was a Soviet-Norwegian jazz pianist, known as a key member of the Moscow Art Trio.
Biography
Alperin was born in Kamianets-Podilskyi, Ukrainian SSR and educated in Khmelnytskyi, Bălți and Chișinău. In 1980, he formed one of the first jazz ensembles in Moldavian SSR. He moved to Moscow in the 1980s and founded the Moscow Art Trio with Arkady Shilkloper and folk singer Sergey Nikolaevich Starostin. He has also worked with Huun Huur Tu. From 1993 to 2018 he lived in Oslo, Norway; he was professor of music at the Norwegian Academy of Music and he supervised pianist Helge Lien and Morten Qvenild among others. He released several works on ECM Records. He died on 11 May 2018 at the age of 61.
Discography
An asterisk (*) indicates that the year is that of release.
| Year recorded | Title | Label | Personnel/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Wave of Sorrow | ECM | Duo, co-led with Arkady Shilkloper (French horn, jagdhorn, fluegelhorn, vocals) |
| 1992 | Folk Dreams | Jaro Medien | |
| 1993 | The Blue Fjords | RDM | Solo piano; reissued as Blue Fjord by Jaro Medien |
| 1996* | Hamburg Concert | Jaro Medien | |
| 1996* | Prayer | Jaro Medien | |
| 1997 | First Impression | ECM | With John Surman (soprano sax, baritone sax), Arkady Shilkloper (French horn, flugelhorn), Terje Gewelt (bass), Jon Christensen (drums), Hans-Kristian Kjos Sørensen (percussion) |
| 1998 | North Story | ECM | Quintet, with Arkady Shilkloper (French horn, fluegelhorn), Tore Brunborg (tenor sax), Terje Gewelt (bass), Jon Christensen (drums) |
| 1998 | At Home | ECM | Solo piano |
| 1998 | Night | ECM | Trio, with Anja Lechner (cello), Hans-Kristian Kjos Sørensen (percussion, marimba, vocals); in concert |
| 2000* | Overture/Etude | Boheme | |
| 2000* | Piano | Boheme | In concert |
| 2000* | Portrait | Jaro Medien | |
| 2006 | Her First Dance | ECM | Trio, with Arkady Shilkloper (French horn, fluegelhorn), Anja Lechner (cello) |