Russian Gypsy Balalaika virtuoso Bibs Ekkel, London, UK

Bibs Ekkel Born in 1946 in England of mixed Polish-English background, Bibs Ekkel is both musician and linguist.

His career as one of very few outstanding professional balalaika players outside Russia has brought him much recognition worldwide, including in the balalaika's Motherland, where he has performed on radio and TV as well as at Moscow's prestigious "Hall of Columns" and "Tchaikovsky Hall".

In addition to concerts, cabarets, recordings, movie soundtracks, radio and TV he has had speaking and playing roles in many films and BBC-TV productions, where he has also worked as advisor on Romany or Russian music themes for movies such as: "The Man Who Knew Too Little", "The Saint", "Yasha the Liar".
 
He has lectured on Balalaika, Russian Gypsy music and language at a variety of US Universities, co-authored a BBC radio educational series and written and presented programs on another subject, the Russian singer Peter Lescenco, for BBC World Service.
 
Other instruments Bibs Ekkel plays include: domra, guitar, garmoshka, piano, and gusli.

Apart from solo balalaika albums and various recordings he has recorded several albums with his group "Tziganka".

This highly successful emigre music and dance ensemble has been touring internationally, performing concerts and cabaret, since Bibs founded it in 1975. Some of the group's records have been issued on such labels as "Russkiy disk", Moscow, CBS Israel and "Decca", London.

"Across The Russian Steppes" Album (1978)
Bibs Ekkel with ensemble Tziganka

Bibs Ekkel

Arr: Bibs Ekkel
Faina Zinova (vocals)
Bibs Ekkel (balalaika, guitar, piano)
Joshka Sziklafi (accordion)
Mo (guitar)
Robka (c-bass balalaika, percussion)
with the Horsley Choir
Conductor Robin White

MP3 SAMPLES

01. My Girl Marusya
02. Green Eyes
03. Konfetki-Baranochki
04. Steppes
05. Couchman, Drive me to the Yar
06. Black Eyes
07. Farewell, My Gypsy Camp
08. Where Is My Loved One
09. Papirosen
10. End Of Road
11. At Our Parting
12. Yashka-Tsygan
13. Poliushko-Pole
14. Spoite, Tsyganie

Bibs Ekkel Album "Balalaika And Songs" (2002)

Bibs Ekkel

MP3 SAMPLES

01. Russkaya Vodka
02. Perepyolochka
03. Meteor (Andreev)
04. V vesennem lesu
05. Zastavil menya muzh
06. Autumn Dream
07. Na Troikh
08. Cavatina (Raff)
09. Korobeiniki (Ditel)
10. Glinka: Nie Iskushai
11. Hoyka, hoyka!
12. Nocturne (Trostyansky)
13. Spoite, Tsiganie!

Album "Blue Sky Of Russia" (1990)
Bibs Ekkel and ensemble Tziganka

Bibs Ekkel

Arr: Bibs Ekkel
Faina Zinova (vocals)
Bibs Ekkel (balalaika, guitar, piano)
Zhopnik (guitar)
Alexei Zolotuhin/Robka (contrabassbass balalaika)
Horsley Choir
Conductor: Robin White

MP3 SAMPLES

01. Blue Sky Of Russia
02. All that passed
03. V etot chudnyi vecher
04. Sevodnya ya lublyu
05. Poruchik Galitsyn
06. Spoite, tsyganie
07. Ekh, byla - nie byla
08. Ekh, zastavil menya muzh
09. Yamshchik goni-ka k Yaru
10. Kai miro kamlipen
11. Slyshu, slyshu
12. Tatiyana
13. Druzhba

Album "Russian Tornado" (1998)
Bibs Ekkel plays balalaika

Bibs Ekkel

Bibs Ekkel is one of a small handful of world class players of the balalaika outside Russia. With his virtuoso, flamboyant style he has done much to gain recognition for his amazing, if relatively known instrument. His performance elevate it to concert status, while still maintaining its ties to its ancient folk heritage. "Three stringed wonder", "Russian Tornado" - both descriptions have justifiably been applied to the balalaika. Tuned E-E-A, with one steel, two nylon strings, the balalaika is played not with a pick, but with the fingers. Audiences time and again are amazed at the richness and variety of sound produced by such deceptively simple instrument in the hands of a master. In Bibs Ekkel the balalaika has found a worthy, devoted and tireless champion.


MP3 SAMPLES

01. American March
02. Moscow Nights
03. Moon Is Shining
04. Russian Medley
05. Moldavian Dance
06. Hopak
07. Korobushka
08. Under The Apple Tree
09. Turkish Rondo (Mozart)
10. Russian Dance Medley
11. The Long Road
12. Black Eyes

Album "Songs Of Russia's Gypsies" (1975)
Bibs Ekkel and ensemble Tziganka

Arr: Bibs Ekkel
Faina Zinova (vocals)
Bibs Ekkel (balalaika, guitar)
Zhopnik (guitar)
Alexei Zolotuhin (contrabassbass balalaika, domra)

Bibs Ekkel

MP3 SAMPLES

01. Ekh, Tziganka!
02. Alyoshka
03. Lyotsa pesnya
04. Katiusha
05. Druzhba
06. Kolyeso
07. Sing, Gypsies
08. Dunya, I love your pancakes
09. Nie serdis' - Moi Tsyganochki
10. Yablochko
11. Sokolov's guitar
12. Kalinka

VIDEOS

Bibs Ekkel balalaika virtuoso video promo

Watch this video on Rutube.ru

Bibs, Bohdan 'Bodjo in pop Stasi Soft Cell's Tainted Love remixed by Rathergood.com

Watch this video on www.RuTube.ru

Bibs Ekkel and the Russian Tornado's

Watch this video on YouTube.com