Nikolai Kapustin Recordings

Nikolai Kapustin (1937–2020) was a Ukrainian composer and pianist known for blending classical forms with the language of jazz. He was born in Horlivka, Ukraine, and trained at the Moscow Conservatory under pianist Alexander Goldenweiser.

Although he spent much of his early career performing in big bands and jazz ensembles, Kapustin was fundamentally a classical composer at heart. He wrote everything down in meticulous detail — fugues, sonatas, preludes, etudes — but infused it all with swing rhythms, jazz harmony, and stylistic nods to blues, bebop, boogie-woogie, and funk.

Over his lifetime, he composed more than 160 works, including 20 piano sonatas, numerous concertos, and a vast collection of virtuosic solo piano music.