The Russian Moskats: Very Young, Very Talented

At first glance, the group that walked on stage at Catalina Bar & Grill Monday for a one-night-only performance could easily have been mistaken for a middle- or high school musical ensemble, ready to give a recital for friends and family.

That is until they played the first few notes, which were striking ear-openers for those in the moderate-sized crowd who had not previously been aware of the Moskats. The five-piece ensemble, which ranges in age from 13 to 16, played with a technical maturity and a solid sense of swing that belied their ages, as well as the fact that they are young Russians from Moscow. (The highly regarded Russian pianist Igor Bril, also scheduled to appear, had to cancel because of difficulties in obtaining a visa.)

As they proceeded through their set, playing tunes such as Bobby Timmons’ “Moanin’,” Herbie Hancock’s “Cantaloupe Island” and Arturo Sandoval’s “Funky Cha Cha,” it became evident that the Moskats, regardless of age or origin, are simply an impressive jazz ensemble. And, even though it was hard to synchronize the image of 13-year-old pianist Vadim Antonov or 16-year-old alto saxophonist Kostik Safianov--looking as though they had just stepped out of a Russian version of “Tom Sawyer”--with the sounds of their crisp improvised soloing, there was no denying the appeal of their music.

On drums, 14-year-old Peter Ivshim’s authority, sense of swing and imaginative soloing were irresistible, and bassist Andrew Shilo, 16, and percussionist Sasha Bondarenko, 15, laid down the kind of rhythmic support one expects from mature professionals.

It may not be too much of a stretch, in fact, to view the Moskats as a kind of jazz Beatles. Both groups were labeled with silly, but memorable pun-related names. Both found inspiration in the music of another country. Most of the Moskats have blond hair, but their cuts are not unlike the Beatles’ mop tops. Their music is jazz instead of rock, but it is played with the same kind of ingenuous enthusiasm that characterized the Fab Four. And--vitally important--also like the Beatles, the Moskats have enormous capacity to reach a young audience.

The only question that remains is which record company is going to be the first to sign this talented young ensemble, with its great musical and marketing potential.