The Many Faces of Love
An intimate evening of jazz standards, where every song tells a love story and every story ends in dance.
Ksenia Parkhatskaya sings, and then she dances. One of today's most celebrated solo jazz dancers, she steps away from the microphone when the lyrics end and becomes another instrument in the band — trading phrases with the drums and answering the piano in real time.
Between the standards, she tells the stories behind them: myths, letters and real lives that show love in all its forms, from playful and tender to bold and bittersweet.
A Barcelona-based quartet with Marc Martín (piano), Jordi Pallarès (drums) and David Duffy (bass).
Full songs: “The Many Faces of Love” live
Dance as an instrument
Jazz was music and dance from the very beginning. In the social dances of Black American communities in the early 20th century, dancers improvised with the band just as the musicians did.
Ksenia brings that conversation back to the stage. When the lyrics end she takes her solo like any other player in the band: nothing is set, she listens, answers the drums and trades phrases with the piano. What the audience sees and hears is pure improvisation.
And it is made for close rooms. A compact quartet that fits a club stage, with dance that is at its best a few metres from the tables, bringing in both jazz listeners and the local swing dance crowd.
Every song, a different face of love
Before each standard, Ksenia tells the story behind it: Anna Karenina’s quiet unraveling, Mozart’s mischievous love letters, the old Irish longing of Anam Cara.
The stories turn a set of songs into one evening with a thread, and give the audience a reason to listen closely. Told in English, Spanish or Russian.
Witnessing Ksenia is an immersive experience, evoking many emotions from tears to laughter. We invited her to perform at Violon sur le sable and then again to headline la Symphonie d'été.
“Ksenia is an authority on all styles of the golden ages of jazz and swing. To have her on stage is always to enjoy a high-quality, exclusive and surprising show.”
“Jazz Age dance maestro”
“The versatility of Ksenia Parkhatskaya is unmatched.”
An audience that follows her
Ksenia Parkhatskaya
An award-winning dance artist, singer and songwriter, dubbed the “Jazz Age Dance Maestro” by LA Magazine and “a contemporary jazz sensation who sees no limitations” by Hong Kong Magazine. She has performed and taught in more than 35 countries, with the Christian McBride Trio, Postmodern Jukebox and the Paris Opera Orchestra.
Her velvety, melancholic voice draws comparisons to Melody Gardot and Katie Melua. Her single “How Long” has passed 1.5 million Spotify streams, and her debut album Colours was released on vinyl by Terashima Records (Japan). As a teacher, she has passed solo jazz dance on to thousands of dancers around the world.
Three of Barcelona's finest
Ksenia’s primary ensemble features acclaimed musicians from Catalunya and Ireland: Gabriel Amargant, Marc Martin, David Duffy, Jordi Pallares, and Joan Mar Suquet, but she has recorded and performed with many of the leading musicians in Barcelona, namely Anton Jarl, Lluc Casares, Joan Casares, Carlos Sarduy Dimet, Gilles Estopey, Marcal Perramon, Victor Carascossa and Barcelona Jazz Orchestra.
Marc Martín · piano
Started in Joan Chamorro's Sant Andreu Jazz Band; trained at Taller de Músics and in New York. 10+ albums, world tours with Chamorro's projects, Best Soloist at Getxo Jazz Festival (2019).
Jordi Pallarès · drums
ESMUC graduate with a Master's from JazzCampus Basel on a scholarship for excellence, mentored by Jeff Ballard, Larry Grenadier and Mark Turner. 18 albums as drummer, composer and producer.
David Duffy · bass
Irish composer and bassist, co-founder of Jazzville Productions. His debut album was “thoroughly captivating” (BBC Music Magazine) and “brilliant and fascinating music” (Jamie Cullum). Heard at Cork Jazz, SÓNAR, BBC and Jazz FM.
Where it has played
The Many Faces of Love
BYRON Concerts
Sala Or
TicTac Arts Center
Sant Cugat Festa Major
Ksenia on festival stages
Symphonie d'été
Un Violon sur le sable
Hondarribia Jazz Festival
Ondas de Jazz
Paris Jazz Roots
SONORO (Bucharest, 2026)
Formats & technical
- Ideal for
- Jazz clubs, bars, small venues and private events
- Repertoire
- Jazz standards, stories and improvised dance
- Line-up
- Quartet: Ksenia with piano, bass and drums
- Duration
- 1 × 60 min, or 2 × 45 min
- Languages
- English, Spanish, Russian
- Dance area
- About 3 × 2 m clear (3 × 3 m ideal), on stage or in front of it
- Floor
- Wood, dance vinyl or smooth sealed concrete — no carpet or tiles
- Backline
- Acoustic or quality stage piano, drum kit, bass amp
- Sound
- Vocal mic (wireless preferred), monitors, PA
- Lighting
- House lighting is enough, no special design needed
- Add-on
- Solo jazz dance workshop
- Based in
- Barcelona · available internationally
Programming a festival or a larger stage? See Ksenia’s big-stage show: original songs, costume changes, lighting design and electronics.
