Nashville Live and Session harmonica player. All kinds of genres from Country and Bluegrass to Blues, Rock and Jazz. Diatonic Harmonica, Chromatic Harmonica, Bass Harmonica.
"Portnov’s technique is smooth, lyrical, and often jazzy, akin in effect to Johnny Hodges on alto sax, where the melody just floats easily above the accompaniment." -Elmore Magazine.
Ilya Portnov is a multi-talented harmonica player, composer, and producer. Born in Moscow, Russia, Portnov started playing music at a young age, studying piano and harmonica before eventually focusing on the harmonica. He obtained his master's degree from the New England Conservatory in Boston, Massachusetts, where he honed his skills in music performance and composition.
Now based in Nashville, Tennessee, Portnov has become a sought-after musician and collaborator in the music industry. He has lent his harmonica skills to a diverse range of genres including country, bluegrass, blues, jazz, Brazilian music, and more, and he regularly performs on diatonic, chromatic, and bass harmonicas, showcasing his versatility and expertise. In addition to his performance and session work, Ilya is a talented composer and producer. He has released two albums of his original music and has appeared on multiple albums with a diverse range of performers. Ilya's harmonica can also be heard in a number of movies and video games.
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