Ljova and the Kontraband

(Photos Â©Eva Giatas / Evagiatas.com)

LJOVA AND KONTRABAND (formerly Ljova & the Vjola Contraband) -- is chamber-jam music for the "remix generation". As if by alchemy, Eastern-European and Gypsy melodies, Latin rhythms, Jazz-inspired improvisations, and deeply rooted Classical forms are given new meanings in original compositions that fearlessly forge a new direction, with a nostalgic gaze towards the past.

Since making its debut at the Om Factory Yoga Studio in June 2006, the ensemble has performed at venues such as the New York's Museum of Modern Art, Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Brooklyn Academy of Music, where it was the opening musical guest of the Sundance@BAM Film Festival. The Kontraband is also a mainstay at New York's legendary venue Joe's Pub, and the Brooklyn-based club, Barbes.

Founded by the maverick film composer, arranger, and violist Lev 'LJOVA' Zhurbin --- hailed by Billboard magazine as "one of New York's fastest rising composers and instrumentalists" -- the ensemble also features his close collaborators on vocals, accordion, bass and percussion. Inspired by his collaborations with Yo-Yo Ma, Osvaldo Golijov, the Kronos Quartet, the rapper Jay-Z and others, Ljova's compositions dazzle with intricate textures, odd rhythms and lilting melodies, creating music that is both fresh and timeless. The Kontraband is finishing up their debut CD, slated for release in fall 2008. For booking inquiries, please contact booking@Ljova.com.

NETWORK:

Ljova and the Kontraband on:
[ReverbNation] [MySpace] [Facebook] [YouTube]

TRACKS FOR SALE:

While we work to finish our debut CD release, we're offering four tracks for sale as high-quality mp3s, from Ljova's soundtracks to Serpent's Breath, Cupcake, and Un Peu Moins, performed by the Kontraband. Enjoy!

UPCOMING DATES:

May 8, 2008	Trinity Wall Street Church, New York	[watch the webcast!]
May 10, 2008	DROM / East Village, NYC [buy tickets here -- no service charge!]	[more info]
May 18, 2008, 12pm	Philadelphia Book Festival, Philadelphia PA	[more info]
May 18, 2008, 4pm	Princeton Arts Council, Princeton NJ - double bill with the Yiddish Arts Trio	[more info]
June 5, 2008, 4pm	Petrushka on the Hudson, World Yacht, New York	[more info]
June 12-15, 2008, 4pm	collaboration with Freefall Dance Company, at walkerspace	[more info]
July 11, 2008, 8pm	Barbes, Brooklyn NY	[more info]
September 28, 2008, 7:30pm -- CD RELEASE!	Joe's Pub, New York NY	[info soon]

REVIEWS:

This eclectic violist's music is anything but plain folk by Justin Davidson, Newsday

"richly textured palette featuring Eastern European and Gypsy melodies beautifully offset by Latin-tinged rhythms"
--New Yorker

"Ljova and the Kontraband play genre-defying music beautifully and soulfully. Organically bringing together influences ranging from classical and new music, klezmer, tango, jazz, Gypsy music and more, their music is smartly original, steeped in tradition while moving those traditions forward. Ljova is also a savvy promoter who continually demonstrates that independent artists can effectively use new models of music distribution and social networking to bring their music to the public on their own terms."
--Bill Bragin, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, New York City

Swinging Violas by Alexander Gelfand, Jazziz

"...This past January, the Russian-born, New York City-based violist Ljova and his Vjola Contraband drew a full house at Joe's Pub in Manhattan, forcing fans to stand three-deep at the room's swanky, dimly lit bar. Rarely have I seen so many young, attractive people pay to hear a band with no less than two violists not to mention an accordion player, an acoustic bassist, and a percussionist who bears a striking resemblance to Sideshow Bob....

The off-kilter rhythms he favors recall the asymmetrical dance beats of central and southeastern Europe, where time signatures tend to look like hat sizes (7/8, 13/8, 15/16). They tug and pull at you in strange and mysterious ways, as do Ljova's melodies, which have the tuneful, emotive quality of good pop.">> [More]

AUDIO & VIDEO: