An original group appeared on our stage, the Briats-band
On New Year’s Eve my friends gave me an unexpected present, inviting me to a concert of a group with the unfamiliar and in a way frivolous name of Briats-band [Strum band]. This seemed strange to me, since the concert took place at the hall (or rather salon) of the Ukrainian Fund to Support the Arts in Frolivska Street, which regularly hosts exhibitions and chamber music soirees remarkable for their good taste and perfect rendition. And now the Briats-band... However, my friends insisted that I came, promising that I would not regret it.
I was late to the concert (unfortunately, newspaper deadlines cannot always be adjusted with the schedule of cultural events). Unwilling to disturb anybody, I went through the back entrance and took a seat in the last row, separated from the stage by the backs of the numerous audience. But all this didn’t matter. What mattered was the music, bewitchingly nostalgic and surprisingly bright: western pop of the 1970s was followed by familiar tunes from times and then the quaking “The Show Must Go On” by the late Freddy Mercury turning into variation on the themes from Quentin Tarantino films. This was really marvelous! When I finally made out what instruments the musicians were playing, my admiration doubled. It was balalaikas and accordion. Further, Latino music gave way to Irish, disco took turns with jazz, punk with metal... It seemed they were able to play anything. Even being aware that there are only four very young men onstage holding three-stringed balalaikas and one accordion, one got the impression that there was a full string orchestra playing.
So, who are they and how did this original quartet, which I am absolutely certain will soon have many fans, appear? It appears that the Briats-band received its first ovations in 2001, when the group’s veteran, 23-old Ihor Nerovny (lead balalaika), gave his debut concert together with his fellow students of the National Music Academy of Ukraine. Ihor, along with Oleh Shaman (bass balalaika), Yevhen Kazantsev (alto balalaika), and accordionist Serhiy Trotsenko came to the band in the classic way, as they say themselves: musical school, musical college, and conservatory. All four are laureates of many regional, Ukrainian, and international contests. All play the guitar professionally, while Yevhen can also play the piano. They still study at the Conservatory in the balalaika class. Interestingly, there were no classical pieces at the band’s concert, though they naturally have some in their repertory; moreover, they use it for warming up at their rehearsals. As the Briats-band, they also have something under their belts: first place at the International Performers’ Contest in Poprad, Slovakia, their first CD in 2003, and more. First, now they are convinced that their love for the unusual and for some even archaic instrument is no obstacle to self-expression (the diversity of their repertory is evidence to this) or successful career in show business (today they are probably the only ones of their kind). Second, they have learned that they needed to master vocal and involve percussion instruments as well as perhaps backup vocalists and dancers. In general, they have many ambitious plans, shared by the group’s producer Olha Kholodova. She rightfully believes that the group able to play classics and pop music, give concerts, and play at nightclubs and parties, doing all this equally well, is literally doomed to success.
Why did they choose such a name, after all? It appeared that there is nothing frivolous about it, no irony either. “Strumming” is a completely professional term; it all depends on how you do it.
