At the end of September, the band Hyphen Dash will set off on a tour of Germany, Austria and the Netherlands, the Ukrainian Institute reports.
The band Hyphen Dash represents a new generation of Ukrainian improvisational music. They perform in the following line-up:
- Mykhaylo Birchenko — band leader, drums,
- Yevhen Puhachov — guitar, bass,
- Polina Mayboroda — keyboards,
- Dmytro Startsev — keyboards, effects.
Last year, the band won the Grand Prix at the UA Jazz Prize 2025 — Ukraine’s first jazz award. At the time, the musicians impressed the international jury with a bold musical language and a distinctive artistic identity, combining complex structures with a sense of playfulness, dance and humour, the organisers note.
Hyphen Dash’s work stands out for its originality and a daring approach to improvisation, revealing a young ensemble with strong international potential. The jury also highlighted the band’s growing recognition on the European scene, stressing that it is one of the most exciting projects to watch in the coming years.
The Ukrainian Jazz Prize was launched last year by the Ukrainian Institute in partnership with the Europe Jazz Network. The aim of the award is to support and promote Ukrainian musicians internationally.
Now, the first Grand Prix winners of the UA Jazz Prize are heading out on a European tour, where they will perform at leading jazz venues with the support of members of the European Jazz Network. Hyphen Dash will also take part in the awards ceremony during the European Jazz Conference in Cologne and will present a showcase for a professional audience — representatives of the European jazz industry.
Tour schedule
- 23 September, 20:30 – Porgy & Bess, Vienna (Austria)
- 24 September, 20:30 – Jazzclub Unterfahrt, Munich (Germany)
- 26 September – European Jazz Conference, Cologne (Germany) Ukrainian Jazz Prize awards ceremony and winners’ concert
- 27 September, 20:30 – Bimhuis, Amsterdam (the Netherlands)
- 28 September, 20:00 – NICA Jazz Club, Hamburg (Germany)
The first Ukrainian jazz award, the UA Jazz Prize is presented in two categories: Best Jazz Band and Best Jazz Release. The 2025 release of the year was the album Unnatural Root by the band HilariousDisasters.
The UA Jazz Prize winners’ tour is being held in partnership between the Ukrainian Institute and the Europe Jazz Network, and in cooperation with members of the European Jazz Network — Bimhuis, Porgy&Bess, Unterfahrt and Jazzbüro Hamburg.