Ilya Lushtak

Ilya Lushtak is a Russian-born jazz guitarist and vocalist who has been a fixture of the New York scene since the early 2000s, steeped in the bebop and classic jazz tradition. Born in the Soviet Union, he moved with his family to San Francisco at the age of three and came up in the Bay Area playing alongside local figures such as Bruce Forman and Ed Kelly. In New York he worked extensively with elder masters of the music, including a long run in Frank Wess's quartet and quintet from 2003 to 2013, along with performances with Hank Jones, Barry Harris, Cedar Walton, and Jimmy Cobb. He also founded the classic jazz label Lineage Records, producing sessions that paired veteran masters in the studio. He hosts and plays jam sessions at Smalls, where he is a regular presence.