1. Song For My Brother
2. Mixed Feelings
3. Unusual Guest
4. Regent St
5. Chance
6. Wrong Shape
7. Awful Secret


Dmitry Alexandrov - sax
Dennis Adu - trumpet
Yuri Koynichenko - trombone
Nataliya Lebedeva - piano
Konstantin Ionenko - bass
Oleg Markov - drums

Music producer - Igor Zakus.

Kaktus Fresh is a brilliant mix of youth and experience. Along with Alexandrov, Lebedeva and Koynichenko - the best cats on their instruments in the country - there are younger but not less latented Adu, Ionenko and Markov. Dennis Adu is to fill in the always problematic niche of trumpets in Ukraine. He's still a bit one-sided as a perfomer but instead possesses a great fantasy and a good taste. Ionenko is out of deliberate flamboyancy but extremely perseptive to other sidemen's ideas. Oleg Markov is being often compared with late Tony Williams - could there be anything more eloquent?

While showcasing all the best by each musician the album is undoubtedly a group project. None of participants tend to prevail and all of the cats (except Markov) present their own tunes. This is jazz of the highest level! Apart from unpredictable and always in-place improvisations the themes and arrangements are themselves startligly sofisticated. This is the music which readily allows to dig into it more and more. Considering the character of the compositions presented there's no need to find hits here. Nominally, the most memorable song is Alexandrov's Regent St. But it's not particular songs which justify the strength of the album.   

It should be stressed exceptionally - this is the live record. So musicians couldn't choose the best takes and re-record faulty ones. More stunning impression the album makes - it's flawless performing-wise. And only some sound drawbacks make up a fly in the ointment. But it's rahter insignificant details.