Meet the Artists
Award-winning trumpeter /singer /guitarist /band leader Ilya Serov has a passion for jazz that knows no bounds. A talented young musician with an old soul, Ilya brings an infusion of imagination, vision and energy to the many shades of America’s original musical art form. Possessing both chops and charisma, his live performances and recordings have attracted a solid following among jazz fans and seasoned musicians alike.
Ilya’s experiences on the jazz scene have recently led him to expand his creative interests in a significant new direction that blends smooth jazz with elements of soul and R&B. In November 2021 he released his third studio album, Just Friends, which features platinum-selling saxophonist Dave Koz and other award-winning artists: keyboardist Greg Manning, saxophonist Alex Hahn, vocalist Matt Cusson and guitarist Kay-Ta Matsuno. The album is dedicated to one of America’s most iconic jazz trumpet players and singers, Chet Baker, and is titled after Baker’s classic jazz standard of the same name. Baker was the inspiration that pushed Ilya to begin finding his own voice in the jazz world. As his own style matured, Ilya wondered what Baker, with his musical genius, would sound like as a contemporary jazz artist today. With Just Friends, Ilya strives to show the connection between several generations of jazz.
Ilya first encountered jazz as a teen, exchanging tapes and records with fellow musicians. His earliest jazz influences were Arturo Sandoval, Chet Baker, Miles Davis, Frank Sinatra and Nat “King” Cole, and he eventually incorporated their sounds and vocal stylings into his own music.
In the last few years Ilya has performed at a number of notable festivals and concert series, including the Newport Beach Jazz Festival, Catalina JazzTrax Festival, Laguna Beach Festival of Arts, TOARTS Concert Series, Big Bear Jazz Festival, and the Daytona Jazz Weekend, among others. When not on stage, Ilya spends his time in the recording studio. His debut album, September in the Rain (2013), was a Big Band outing of classic jazz standards that highlighted both his horn and vocal skills. That album was followed by the release of Back in Time (2018), featuring classic tunes and instrumental collaborations with legendary pianist Roger Kellaway, and acclaimed saxophonist Eric Marienthal, and GRAMMY®-winning percussionist Poncho Sanchez.
Ilya Serov is driven today not only by his desire to preserve jazz as an American treasure, but by his mission to engage and educate new generations of listeners. He continues to focus exclusively on contributing his time and talent to the world of jazz - its past, present and future.
Ilya’s experiences on the jazz scene have recently led him to expand his creative interests in a significant new direction that blends smooth jazz with elements of soul and R&B. In November 2021 he released his third studio album, Just Friends, which features platinum-selling saxophonist Dave Koz and other award-winning artists: keyboardist Greg Manning, saxophonist Alex Hahn, vocalist Matt Cusson and guitarist Kay-Ta Matsuno. The album is dedicated to one of America’s most iconic jazz trumpet players and singers, Chet Baker, and is titled after Baker’s classic jazz standard of the same name. Baker was the inspiration that pushed Ilya to begin finding his own voice in the jazz world. As his own style matured, Ilya wondered what Baker, with his musical genius, would sound like as a contemporary jazz artist today. With Just Friends, Ilya strives to show the connection between several generations of jazz.
Ilya first encountered jazz as a teen, exchanging tapes and records with fellow musicians. His earliest jazz influences were Arturo Sandoval, Chet Baker, Miles Davis, Frank Sinatra and Nat “King” Cole, and he eventually incorporated their sounds and vocal stylings into his own music.
In the last few years Ilya has performed at a number of notable festivals and concert series, including the Newport Beach Jazz Festival, Catalina JazzTrax Festival, Laguna Beach Festival of Arts, TOARTS Concert Series, Big Bear Jazz Festival, and the Daytona Jazz Weekend, among others. When not on stage, Ilya spends his time in the recording studio. His debut album, September in the Rain (2013), was a Big Band outing of classic jazz standards that highlighted both his horn and vocal skills. That album was followed by the release of Back in Time (2018), featuring classic tunes and instrumental collaborations with legendary pianist Roger Kellaway, and acclaimed saxophonist Eric Marienthal, and GRAMMY®-winning percussionist Poncho Sanchez.
Ilya Serov is driven today not only by his desire to preserve jazz as an American treasure, but by his mission to engage and educate new generations of listeners. He continues to focus exclusively on contributing his time and talent to the world of jazz - its past, present and future.
Oli Silk is a British smooth jazz keyboardist, producer and composer.
In 2006, Silk made his debut at the Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival, and later that year he was named Debut Artist of the Year by Smooth Jazz News magazine and Art Good's Jazztrax.com Also in that year, his song "Easy Does It" hit No. 19 on the US Billboard Smooth Jazz chart.
His single "Chill or Be Chilled", peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Smooth Jazz chart and No. 5 on the Top Smooth Jazz Songs 2009 chart in 2009.
Silk was nominated International Artist of the Year 2010 by the American Smooth Jazz Awards.
In January 2014 Silk had his first Billboard No.1on the Smooth Jazz Chart with "At Your Service" (feat. Julian Vaughn).
Oli’s latest album *led “6” achieved 3 Billboard No.1’s in a row, making him one of only a handful of Smooth Jazz artists EVER to achieve this feat.
In 2006, Silk made his debut at the Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival, and later that year he was named Debut Artist of the Year by Smooth Jazz News magazine and Art Good's Jazztrax.com Also in that year, his song "Easy Does It" hit No. 19 on the US Billboard Smooth Jazz chart.
His single "Chill or Be Chilled", peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Smooth Jazz chart and No. 5 on the Top Smooth Jazz Songs 2009 chart in 2009.
Silk was nominated International Artist of the Year 2010 by the American Smooth Jazz Awards.
In January 2014 Silk had his first Billboard No.1on the Smooth Jazz Chart with "At Your Service" (feat. Julian Vaughn).
Oli’s latest album *led “6” achieved 3 Billboard No.1’s in a row, making him one of only a handful of Smooth Jazz artists EVER to achieve this feat.