The film tells the story of how, against the backdrop
of the tense political climate between the Berlin and Cuban crises,
Benny Goodman’s orchestra arrived in the Soviet Union.
For the Soviet people in 1962, this was a tremendous breakthrough —
both in terms of international relations
and the rare opportunity to experience jazz music,
which was largely restricted at the time.
It also offered a rare chance to encounter
real Americans and their culture.
"Trojan Jazz" TRAILER
Giya KANCHELI, composer
I sorted out all these themes by ear, and played them on the piano. When I was invited to parties, I never danced with anyone, because I was sitting at the piano all the time. The others danced, and I just accompanied them. So I might say that my friendship with the music world began not with Mozart, Bach and Beethoven, but with Glen Miller, Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, etc. It all started with a swing. Dissidents, defectors, anti-Soviets appeared later.