Ukrainians say Вітаємо! (Vitayemo)
Welcome!
The Ukrainians web
sites list, "The Ukes" musicians collective & "The
Ukrainians" first accordionist & co-writer for Vorony,
Kultura, & The Smiths EP.
Ukrainian Carol in English @ HMVDigital.com Search for Ukrainian Carol. Scroll down. 1st choice out of 343 albums & singles.
I was piano accordionist &
co/songwriter with The Ukrainians, founded by
ex-Wedding Present guitarist Pete Solowka, for the Vorony, Kultura
& Smiths covers EP. Roman Remeynes, original mandolinist
co/songwriter & I grew up participating in our respective
Ukrainian communities which gave us both a good grounding in
traditional music. "The Ukrainians" achieved considerable
international success performing at venues ranging from Ukraine's
second anniversary of Independence in Kyiv, Ukraine, through
to the Bumbershoot & Glastonbury festivals in the USA & England,
& numerous European festivals & venues. We also recorded a
sound track to a Nike sports wear advert. I was accordionist with
this band for touring the "Ukrainians" debut CD, & accordionist
& co-songwriter during "Vorony" & "Kultura" LP's, & the
Smiths covers EP. Radio appearances included
Peel & Kershaw sessions & other British, Canadian, US, &
European Radio & TV.
How "The Ukrainians" crafted their songs.
Whilst I was with them, The Ukrainians' unique sound was the synergical product of all its band members unique contributions and musical influences. The songs that you hear on your CDs or at gigs were normally the ideas of one or two of us, refined or sometimes even roughed up, and then crafted by the whole team. Pete, Len and Roman were the song writing team before I joined but then I became part of it for Vorony and Kultura.
You can see some of my specific contributions
here I
enjoyed being in the Ukrainians "Mark 1" line up, sometimes
affectionately referred to as "The A team" which, I stress, relates
to personnel chronology, and not musical ability or quality!
Speaking of which click here to hear me with the original line up being broadcast from the space shuttle by Ukrainian American astronaut/Plastun Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper. Nice to know she had a CYMivets on her CD player! First CYM member in Space!
My Musical CV. 1970's Member of quartet
Vyrkhovyna, Luton Based Ukrainian folk group.
1980's Accordionist with Reading based "Metelyk" Ukrainian
dance ensemble, veterans of European international folk festivals.
1990's Waltham Cross based "Zhnyva" Ukrainian dance &
function band. Original line up accordionist and co-writer with
one time John Peel favourites, Wedding Present spin off, The
Ukrainains.
2000's Music for BBC TV Football programme hosted by Mark
Wright "Row Z". Music for London theatre, Frederic Molnars
"Husbands and Lovers", London City Lit. Bass singer in Ukrainian
male voice choir “Bulava”directed by international opera star Pawlo
Hunka Bulava for their first tour "Vyrkhovyna".
2007, sessioning on accordion for Welsh Folk Rockers Here be
Dragons incuding a few gigs in Italy and Chicago USA for their US TV debut.
Session work on:
The Bishop of Buffalo, Rev Hammer, produced by Justin Sullivan,
New Model army. The Bridewell Taxis's release "Cage" produced by
Roxy Music's Phil Manzanera. Accordion on NY Ukrainian duets
"Darka and Slavko" last release. Accordion on latest release "Elvis Lives Here", by
The Swagger Band featuring Swill (Phil Odgers) also of The Men They Couldn't
Hang. English translations of Orange Revolution hit, Ya Patriot,
and "Children of Orange" by Ukrainian artist Lessia
Horova (Atlantic Records).
Since "The Ukrainians"
Ludwig's Eclectic Collection:
15 tracks varying in lyrical content from serious to light
hearted, and in musical styles from Ska, Latino/Jazz, & dance
through to Rock, Reggae, Swing & Township rhythm. The first
three tracks are re-interpretations of traditional Ukrainian folk
songs, two of which are sung in Ukrainian, and the rest are original
compositions sung in English, some of which are about Ukrainian
themes, such as "Song for Yuriy Shukhevich" and "Refugee Nation".
The CD is very eclectic. There is even a
Bavarian style beer drinking song on it!
"Rokovyny" (Anniversaries)
Cd of new musical collective produced by US Hollywood and
Canadian Music Industry award winner Roman Klun. Some Ukrainian tracks
given a different treatment, ranging from dynamic to melancholy.
Orange Revolution
A collection of songs relating to Ukraine’s struggle for
independence and events as they unfolded at the time of the Orange
Revolution.
A short musical life biog.
My Ukrainian Dad bought me an accordion when I was nine years old
and got me involved with the music scene in the British Ukrainian
community, and my musical tuition was helped along by my Irish Mum,
an accomplished fiddle player. In typical Irish tradition, our
family band comprised of my Mother on fiddle, sister Mariyka on
guitar, and myself on accordion playing Irish and Ukrainian music.
My sister Mariyka and I also used to played in a folk group
representing Luton's Ukrainian community called Verkhovyna, once a
favourite at Luton's bank holiday festivities. My Mother comes from
a musical family. Her cousin was the late Eddie Rabbit, the
Irish/American Country & Western singer who wrote "Every which
way but loose" for the Clint Eastwood film featuring an Orangutan
ape, and also "Kentucky Rain" made famous by Elvis Presley.
Other stuff
Swimming teacher, fitness & weight training instructor, family man, subsistence farmer & wine maker.
The "Kolos
great Ukrainian music of Britain" compilation quotes The Ukrainians "Lebedi Materynstva" track 4 as "part
recorded in 1993, completed in the above sessions" (July &
August 1997). In fact the 1993 recording was in its own right a
complete live recording for radio, not just arranged by Solowka/Liggins
as stated on the release, but arranged
and performed by Len Liggins, myself, Andriy Maslyaniy, long time
friend who sometimes stood in on Mandolin with The Ukrainians and now
plays with me in "The Ukes", and Pete Solowka.
Christmas charity song 2011
(Facebook) Silent Night in Ukrainian and English
Click
and search top right for Silent Night in Ukrainian and English. iTunes Result displayed bottom right.
Also at HMVDigital.com Same song search. Click albums and singles found pic as above.
About fraudulent voting in Ukraine's parliament. Про шахрайські голосування в парламенті України.
