An interview can be a very intimate thing. I have developed personal friendships with many of the interview subjects who you can find in the archives of BLUES JUNCTION for this very reason. A great example of this is a young Ukrainian harmonica player named Konstantin Kolesnichenko.

I reached out to him back in 2016, upon hearing his album Hypnotized. I was mesmerized by the maturity, sophistication and emotional honesty of the ensemble and Konstantin’s playing in particular.  Since then, he has released two more albums. 2017’s Minor Differences was his fourth release in as many years. It was a thrill to be asked to write the liner notes for music that I enjoy so much. I felt privileged to be a very small part of such a fantastic CD.

Then Konstantin helped make his most important contribution to the world and the first of two major life changing events to have taken place for the Kolesnichenko family in the last five years. He had a son. Zhori is now four and a half years old.

Konstantin, as one might expect, took a couple of years to get back to the studio to release his pre-pandemic album Tenderly. This album came out in 2020, literally days before the world began reeling from the effects of Covid-19. As happened with many things, despite the stunningly high quality of the music, very few paid much attention. Bad timing to be sure.

So, as the pandemic seems to have abated, at least for the time being, Kolesnichenko has been readying himself for his sixth album and the most ambitious projects of his career. It is called Good Thing: A Tribute to George Smith.

In addition to his crack band, Kolesnichenko has assembled an international cast of special guests who make terrific contributions. Americans Alabama Mike, Big Harp George and Dennis Gruenling, Daniel de Vita of Argentina and Matyos Pribojszki of Hungary all have guest slots on Good Thing. Stepping away from the all-instrumental format of the previous three albums, five of the ten tracks include vocal performances by various singers.

Good Thing is a decidedly more blues-oriented album, as it steps ever so gently away from the soul-jazz Blue Note/Prestige sounds of his previous efforts. What is still in place is the gut-wrenching harmonica stylings of Kolesnichenko.

In visiting with Konstantin on February 17^th, he was very excited about this new project. He was planning on shopping the record around to various labels. I shared with him some ideas and contacts I had. But that’s not what prompted me to reach out to my friend on this day.

I said, “If I may change subjects for a moment, tell me about your concerns over the Russian military buildup on your borders.”

Without hesitation he said, “We are too tired to be scared. We are too tired to make plans if war begins.” The musician went on to say, “I believe in our army. It’s more motivated and experienced than the Russian army. He acknowledged that “…they (the Russians) have more weapons and more troops.”

Exactly seven days later, on February 24^th, the second major life changing event took place (the first I referenced earlier) in the lives of the Kolesnichenko family, and all Ukrainians for that matter, when the Russians began an all-out invasion of Ukraine.

On February 24^th, Konstantin, his wife and child were in the coastal resort city of Odessa on the Black Sea. They were there to celebrate their wedding anniversary which was on that day. I am glad to report they made the harrowing trip back to his hometown of Dnipro some 452 kilometers (281 miles) away.

My last contact with my friend was on Monday, February 28^th. I told him “I hope you have some awareness of the outpouring of love for you and your family coming from the U.S. You are constantly in my thoughts. Your courage is inspiring to me. Love David”

I asked him if he needed any financial assistance. He said “not me personally but the Ukrainian army please…” and provided a link*.

Now get this, he then apologized to me for being so mentally and physically exhausted. I said, “No need to be sorry. I can’t imagine what you are going through. Now get some rest and sleep, if that’s even possible.”

He told me “I can’t stop reading news.” I told him that I suffer from the same problem. I went on to say, “The old expression ‘no news is good news’ doesn’t seem so trite and silly right about now.” He agreed. I again urged him to stop visiting with me and to try and get some sleep.

Over the past week I wait every day to see if he has posted anything on Facebook, which tells me that he is still alive. However, with attacks on Ukraine’s nuclear plants and electricity, the ability to communicate with the outside world could end at any moment.

What the future holds for Ukraine and its people is not something I’m qualified to even speculate. It’s above my pay grade, as they say. There is no shortage of information, misinformation, speculation and analysis by folks who get paid to share whatever expertise they may (or may not) have on these topics.

What I do know for sure, is that the courage, resolve and fortitude Konstantin Kolesnichenko has demonstrated throughout his life and particularly over these past few weeks is terribly moving to me.

It is hard enough to pursue the life of a blues and/or jazz musician, knowing full well that no matter how much talent, dedication, discipline, creativity, time and hard work you put into your art, too few people will give a damn.

Maybe, this was the perfect training ground for a hero.  

- David Mac

Editor's Note: Here are some links to donate to help the people of Ukraine

*National Bank of Ukraine special fund for Ukrainian Armed Forces

unitedhelpukraine.org

sunflowerofpeace.com