Sasha Mashin - Happy Run
Sasha Mashin's new and first Italian album, "Happy Run," features two extraordinary artists: saxophonist Rosario Giuliani and double bassist Makar Novikov.
Mashin, a Russian drummer, has chosen to live in Italy, specifically Rome, for the past two years since the conflict involving his country began. Sasha Mashin used to live in Moscow, where he played a leading role in the city's cultural and music scene. Two activities in particular occupied much of his time: "Sasha Mashin Happy Lab," which took place once a week at Moscow’s main jazz club, and "Sasha Mashin Happy Run," where friends would meet once a week to run 10 kilometers and chat. The idea behind the music lab was to break down the barrier between the audience and the stage, fostering informal communication, concerts, and the exchange of ideas. In a short time, the lab became a regular event for listening to great music and a meeting place for creatives who shared ideas and started new projects. Similarly, the amateur running event became popular, with many of the same participants from the "Happy Lab." The rules were simple: as long as you were running, you could learn anything you wanted, not only from the event's creator, Mashin himself, but also from all the musicians and people involved in the 10-kilometer run, who came from diverse professional backgrounds. The outbreak of war profoundly changed dynamics, not only on an international scale but also, and most importantly, in the lives of individuals. Sasha Mashin continued to “run,” not just metaphorically. Arriving in Italy as a political refugee, he found new friends and exceptional musicians who welcomed him both as a person and as an artist. Today, the Russian drummer feels he can call Rome his "home" and his new and old friends "his family."
"I have the feeling that I have finally finished my run," explains Sasha Mashin in his album's liner notes, "for the first time in a long time, I feel truly happy. While the idea of emigrating once filled me with existential dread, it doesn't even feel like I've moved far from home. Italians are so open, friendly, and supportive that it feels like I've completed a marathon and reached the finish line. I am home." The songs on the "Happy Run" album are composed by Sasha Mashin himself. "Country of Obscurantism" suggests that it doesn't have to be beautiful, which helps the artist share it with a lighter heart. "I promise I will continue with my attempts and maybe one day I'll write something more beautiful with a more joyful background." The album includes the beautiful composition "Yellow Blues" by Makar Novikov, the magnificent three-part "Suite et Poursuite" by Rosario Giuliani, the ballad "Darn That Dream" by Jimmy Van Heusen, and even a track from "The Rite of Spring" by the artist's most beloved composer, Igor Stravinsky ("Introduction, Les Augures printaniers"), paired with Victor Lewis's composition "Hey, It's Me You Are Talkin' To" (music the artist is convinced was inspired by Stravinsky himself). "One of the most beautiful experiences related to running," says Sasha, "is the ability to think and plan while running. In these moments, the brain's chemistry changes significantly, producing more serotonin and dopamine, and you can think more clearly and precisely. By running regularly, I understood one important thing: you can't run away from yourself. But you can run away from darkness, both inside and outside of us. Running is a smart sport. Run happy!"
"Happy Run" is an album that is not just about music; it also tells a story. It is a metaphorical "run" that allowed the artist to move away from the darkness of a difficult past and brought him to Italy for a new life in his new home.