More than a year ago a profound loss resonated through the Ukrainian jazz community with the passing of Serhii Artemov, a renowned bass and double bass player, composer, and arranger. Artemov met his fate near Bakhmut while bravely defending his homeland during the Russian full-scale invasion in April 2023. Despite having no prior military experience, he volunteered for the assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, driven by an unwavering commitment to his country. A poignant reminder of Artemov's sacrifice comes in the form of a military honor, as he posthumously receives the Medal "For Military Service to Ukraine." His brother, Andriy, accepted the award on his behalf.
Artemov was a distinguished figure in the Dnipro jazz scene, gaining prominence with his Vibe Trio and later contributing to projects such as Dark Side Trio, Danylo Vinarikov Ensemble, and Elevation Trio. Just before the war he recorded together with Vibe Trio a new album, in April 2024 the first track “Surveyor 4” from this album has been released, already after he passed away.
Though physically absent, Serhii Artemov's legacy as a remarkable musician, a wonderful person, and a defender of Ukraine will endure. Ukrainian Institute has gathered the music scores by Serhii Artemov and invites musicians from all over the world to include them in their programs, make their own interpretations and thus prolong the memory of Serhii.
Recollections on Serhii and reflections on his latest music can be found in the article “Serhii Artemov. in memoriam” in the pubblication “Music in Ukraine: Harmony and Resilience”.
Photo: Serhii Artemov with Danylo Vinarikov Ensemble at Am I Jazz online showcase 2021
photo credit: Yuri Gryaznov.
