Blogs

For those of you couldn't attend the recent LJOVA AND THE VJOLA CONTRABAND performance at Joe's Pub in New York, or for those who were turned away (it was completely sold out!), here are two videos, plus a wonderful review from the Newsday music critic Justin Davidson - enjoy!

Friends and fans in the New York area - don't miss your next opportunity to join LJOVA AND THE VJOLA CONTRABAND for their return performance at Joe's Pub, on January 17th at 9:30pm!

We'll be premiering many new pieces, and are splitting the bill with the brilliant gypsy party band ROMASHKA!

==> Full details here.
Hope to see you there!

<!-- begin content -->HEAT ME UP - the most recent track by Ljova - is available as free download!

Grab the track here:
==>HEAT ME UP
...Enjoy!

REMIX IT!
"Heat Me Up" is looking for a new beat! If you'd like to give remixing a try, download all of the raw files at Ljova's page on CCMixter. You can publish your remixes on CCMixter as well.

Ljova's debut CD, VJOLA: WORLD ON FOUR STRINGS has just been featured in the December issue of STRINGS MAGAZINE! Ljova is honored to be featured in this wonderful publication, especially with his frequent co-conspirator Yo-Yo Ma on the cover.

==>Read the story here!

Ljova's debut release, VJOLA: WORLD ON FOUR STRINGS, has just been reviewed by Allan Kozinn in Ljova's hometown newspaper, the NEW YORK TIMES!

[Ljova] is an eclectic, with an ear for texture... strikingly original and soulful.

==>Read the entire review here!
==>Get a copy of Ljova's debut album, here

Ljova's debut release, VJOLA: WORLD ON FOUR STRINGS has just been profiled on NPR's nationally syndicated radio program WEEKEND AMERICA as the World Music Pick!

Any classical musician will tell you the viola is the Rodney Dangerfield of musical instruments. It never gets any respect because it always plays second fiddle to the violin. World Music critic Anastasia Tsioulcas says that's about to change. Her favorite album of the month is "Vjola, The World on Four Strings," by a Russian-born musician named Ljova.

==>Get a copy of Ljova's debut album, here!
==>Listen to a podcast of this story! (mp3)

<!-- begin content -->Somewhat in hommage to Alvin Lucier's seminal and terrific piece, I am Sitting in a Room, I humbly present for your consumption the "Klezmer Wake" -- subtitled They Were Sitting in a Room. They - are the musicians who performed on the Balkanish Traditions sample library. I took their wonderful performances and sliced together a piece.

Grab the MP3 here and enjoy!
Klezmer Wake - They Were Sitting in a Room

Ljova has recently completed an original score to a wonderfully zany documentary film called "THE TEAM". Produced by the BBC, and directed by James Marsh and Basia Winograd, it follows the triumphs and failures of a group of homeless New Yorkers, who are recruited to compete at the Homeless Soccer World Cup in Graz, Austria. The soundtrack features "Plume" from Ljova's debut CD, as well as music written especially for the film.

==> Check out the trailer at MySpace!

==> More info at the IMDb!

==> For more of Ljova's film music, visit the demos page.

Ljova has recently collaborated with the Kronos Quartet and Matmos on the string arrangement to Matmos' new track "SOLO BUTTONS FOR JOE MEEK", from their new album "THE ROSE HAS TEETH IN THE MOUTH OF A BEAST".

Find out more and get your copy:
==> Visit Ljova's discography page!

Friends and users of the wonderful interactive music service last.fm - rejoice!

You can now preview Ljova's debut album, add his music to your playlists, enjoy Ljova's raio + more.

==> Visit Ljova on last.fm

Ljova's track "Bagel on the Malecon" is currently being featured in Episode 009 of Bowed Radio's podcast, devoted to innovative string music.

Also on the program - the Virus String Quartet, String Theory, L. Subramaniam & Jiebing Chen, Lindsay Mac, Stephen Katz and The Plug

More at bowed.org

(Bowed wedding dress, courtesy of uglydress.com)

Ljova was one of sixteen fellows (and the only violist) who took part in the "Porous Borders of Music" Workshop at Carnegie Hall, featuring the brilliant double bassist and composer Edgar Meyer.

As part of the workshop, two of Ljova's compositions -- PLUME and ORI'S FEARFUL SYMMETRY - were performed at Zankel Hall by an ensemble, featuring:
Darren Moloney (banjo), Josh Pinkham (mandolin), Jeremy Kittel and Katie Hyun (violins), Ljova (viola), Hamilton Berry (cello) and Edgar Meyer himself on bass!

Listen up! You can now preview my entire upcoming CD in under 35 seconds -- a publicist's dream!(?)

>> Get the mp3 below:
LJOVA - VJOLA in under 35 seconds

Does the album actually sound like this? Well - if you listen really fast, maybe!
To hear complete tracks, please visit the demos page.

Enjoy -- and please let me know if you wish to be notified once the album is released!

[Credit Due: created in Jason Freeman's lovely iTunes Signature Maker. Try it!]

Let's face it - sleep is over-rated. But it's nice to dream.

Ljova spent much of January and February preparing new arrangements for upcoming tours by both the Kronos Quartet and Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Ensemble.

Among them are arrangements of musics of China, India, Iran and Iraq, as well as collaborations with Chinese Pipa performer Wu Man, the Iranian Kamancheh virtuoso Kayhan Kalhor, and the Tanzanian-born sound artist Walter Kitundu.

Details of relevant Kronos Quartet shows can be found here;
Details of upcoming Yo-Yo Ma and Silk Road Ensemble shows can be found here.

Enjoy the music!

While not as adorable as the Marimba Ponies, I humbly present for your consumption the "Sabre Dance" by Khachaturian, as arranged by Ljova and orchestrated in collaboration with Matthew van Brink. Here performed with deviant ferociousness by the Canadian group Bowfire, and featuring Lara St. John as the lead violin.

Grab the MP3 here and Enjoy!
Sabre Dance

A few weeks ago, Romashka spent a beautiful afternon horsing around, styling each other's hair, and playing their hearts out in a studio in Williamsburg. The video was filmed and directed by Trevor Bayack, the creator of the groundbreaking music video community site, the New Pop Sensation. Press "click to play" below!

In early January, Ljova made string arrangements and performed with the soulful singer-songwriter R. Star. Dana Leong and Gil
Selinger (both on cello) joined Ljova and R. Star.

On November 11 and 12th, Ljova appeared in the inaugural season of the Cedar Lake Ensemble, a new modern dance troupe led by
Benoit-Swan Pouffer. Ljova played selections from Bach's Cello Suites, accompanied by DJ Stefano Zazzera.

Ljova + Inna made their way to Moscow for the immensely powerful festival celebrating the music + life of Ljova's father, Alexander Zhurbin, and the 60th year of his birth.

For two weeks, the city was filled with Papa's music, whether it were for film, theatre, or the concert stage. Tons of fun was had (by us) and tons of drinks were consumed (primarily by others). Moscow is definitely a happenin' place. (If you can swing it.)

Full report soon, meanwhile, pictures can be found at Fotki