Alexander Eisenstadt is a musician from the Moscow underground circa the late 1970s and early 80s who led of his own jazz-rock group. In spite of being close friends with Mikhail Chekalin for many years, they never played together back then. By the early 90s, Mikhail had gained some amount of recognition when his records began to appear on the Melodiya label, as well outside Russia as well. Western critics took notice and recognized him as one of Russia's radical innovators. Alexander was musical director at a prestigious and famous theater "Sovremennik" in Moscow. He wrote music for films and performances. By 1993 however, neither of these two pioneers of the Moscow underground felt they had achieved their due recognition. There was a short window of modest change and freedom in the late 80s and very early 90s. In this era a few belonging to the avant-garde and progressive artistic wing of Moscow gained recognition. Then the situation grew worse. In the early 90s, Chekalin responded to the invitation of his old friend Alexander Eisenstadt who organized two concerts at the House of Artists and Performers (CDRI) in Moscow. The musical atmosphere of these shows echoed back to a new confluence between old epochs and new civilizations. These live records were never released, or broadcast. This MIR Records In Concert I & II Dbl CD is the second presentation of both concerts since these very first and only performances. - A. PATTERSON / www.eurock.com