ANNA KOLCHINA
Anna Kolchina was born on March 8, 1984, in Ufa, Republic of Bashkortostan, Russia. From a young age, she was drawn to the arts, exploring theater and dance, while also studying classical piano with Evgeny Bloshchitsky at Music School No. 1, named after Nariman Sabitov.
Her introduction to jazz came through her older brother, a saxophonist, who shared with her a few classic jazz records by Count Basie, Charlie Parker, and John Coltrane. The music fascinated her with its complexity, emotion, and freedom.
Inspired by her brother, Anna pursued formal jazz studies and enrolled in the Jazz Department of the Ufa College of Arts. There, she studied under vocal teacher Svetlana Slyaguzova, who played a significant role in her musical development, and worked closely with pianist Alina Kruglikova, who introduced her to an extensive collection of jazz records, which became the cornerstone of her early exposure to jazz.
After graduating, she moved to Saint Petersburg to continue her studies at the University of Culture and Arts, focusing on jazz vocals. In addition to her formal education, she trained in classical vocal techniques for two years with opera singer and teacher Elena Rubin.
While in Saint Petersburg, she also engaged with visiting international musicians, including the legendary pianist Barry Harris, whose teaching profoundly shaped her understanding of jazz.
A pivotal moment came in 2014, when Anna attended a masterclass in Italy with the iconic jazz vocalist Sheila Jordan, who recognized her talent and encouraged her to move to New York to further her career. At the same masterclass, she met pianist Massimo Faraò, who invited her to record together. These recordings were sent to Venus Records, a prestigious Japanese jazz label, who offered to release her debut album, covering travel, recording costs, and a fee—marking the beginning of her professional journey as a recording artist.
Her debut album, Street of Dreams (2015, Venus Records), featured Massimo Faraò on piano, Aldo Zunino on bass, and Marco Tolotti on drums. The album’s success led Venus Records to immediately release her second album, Dark Eyes (2016), for which Anna wrote several arrangements. This album featured Massimo Faraò (piano), Aldo Zunino (bass), Marco Tolotti (drums), Alessandro Fabbri (drums), Claudio Chiara (alto saxophone), and Fulvio Albano (baritone saxophone).
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In 2017, inspired by Sheila Jordan’s guidance and her earlier experiences in Italy, Anna made her first journey to New York to immerse herself in the heart of the jazz world. Despite never having visited the United States before, she managed to arrange a two-week trip in February. On the very day she arrived, suitcase in hand, she went straight to the Smalls Jazz Club, one of the city’s central hubs of jazz life. The moment she stepped inside, she felt a strong connection to the music and the city she had long admired from afar, following Smalls’ online broadcasts all the way from Saint Petersburg.
After returning home, Anna couldn’t stop thinking about New York and soon moved there permanently. Later in 2017, she recorded her third album for Venus Records with an all-star lineup of New York musicians, including pianist John Di Martino, bassist Peter Washington, and drummer Willie Jones III, which marked her official integration into the city’s vibrant jazz scene.
Since then, Anna Kolchina has become an active and recognized presence on the New York jazz stage, performing at major venues and collaborating with acclaimed musicians. Her style is characterized by warm, expressive, elegant, and emotionally rich interpretations, along with a nuanced approach that blends European sensibilities with the tradition of American jazz.
“…Ms. Kolchina has a warm voice, an appealing musical personality, does justice to lyrics and is a subtle improviser…” — Scott Yanow, jazz journalist & historian
“…her vocals betray a knowing and aware character not afraid to show its wounds in its vulnerability, while telegraphing a warning to the listener that it has been all places and knows all things…” — All About Jazz, review by C. Michael Bailey
“Extremely gifted and talented jazz singer… We need more Anna Kolchina’s to help us keep this wonderful music of jazz alive.” — Sheila Jordan, NEA Jazz Master, legendary jazz vocalist and educator
Anna continues to perform regularly across New York City and internationally, while developing new projects. Her repertoire spans jazz standards, original arrangements and reinterpretations that highlight her deep respect for the tradition and her unique artistic voice.