The cheerful and witty Odessa resident Lazar Weisbein was born into an ordinary non-musical family, but he always said: “Is it any wonder that I love music, because I was not born anywhere, I was born in Odessa.” As soon as Lazar began performing solo programs, he took the pseudonym Leonid Utesov. And this name became known throughout the country. Amazed by the work of the American jazz orchestra Ted Lewis, Lazarus March 8, 1929□ In Leningrad he made his debut with the theatrical program “Thea-jazz”. This was a completely new genre for the stage of that period. Utesov combined conducting with entertaining, dancing, singing, playing the violin, and reading poetry. The musicians acted out various scenes between themselves and the conductor. Leonid said: “I don’t sing with my voice - I sing with my heart,” and the audience fell in love with him with all their hearts. But did everyone in Soviet Russia understand Utesov’s jazz? Who did the famous artist consider his friends and who really was his friend? And who was the implacable enemy of the “jazz singer”? Love and hate, difficulties and overcoming them, unimaginable success and... You will learn about this and much more from the book of the famous TV presenter and film critic Gleb Skorokhodov, which opens the door to the inner world of Leonid Utesov.