Karen Kyriakou (violin/fiddle), Jason Day (clarinet), Dave Evans (accordion) and Luke Richardson (double bass). Greg Ryan (drums) joins us sometimes. You may also catch Greg Lavell playing accordion with us at times...
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Influences
Eastern European folk music, world music in general, gypsy tunes, klezmer music, big circle dances in uneven time signatures, hora's, dervishes, jumping dances, big fat and big skinny Greek weddings, big Jewish weddings, heart ache, yummy food, fiddle tunes, classical music, irish tunes, theatre - not always but sometimes with puppets, creepy-crawly things, awesome next-door neighbours, evil next-door neighbours, unsavoury landlords, road trips, travels to Europe...
Sounds Like
Kazband sounds like a bunch of musicians having a good time. Well, that's what I hear when I listen to it. Some people like all the layers of harmonies, some people like trying to work out the time sigs. The music has been described as both "light and quirky" and "dark and intense". So maybe something for everyone.
Armed with a pile of newly composed fiddle tunes, violinist and composer Karen Kyriakou (aka Kaz) approached her three favourite people in the whole wide world (who also happened to be excellent musicians and live in her home town of Melbourne) and started a band!
She humbly called the group Kazband.
The music of Kazband is mostly original, influenced by the traditional dance music of Eastern Europe (and Kaz’s own Greek and Cypriot heritage). Kazband also plays unique interpretations of the traditional music of the area, from Klezmer music – (instrumental Jewish music) to Russian Gypsy music, with slow and lilting melodies that eventually speed up to infectious tempos that will have you dance-dance-dancing (or at the very least, tapping your feet really fast!).
Fiddle player Karen Kyriakou, clarinettist Jason Day, accordion player Dave Evans and Luke Richardson on double bass, make up this energetic ensemble – full of toe tapping goodness! Sometimes we are even graced with Greg Ryan on drums.
Kazband was the runner up in the 2005 MusicOz Awards for ‘Best World Music Group’, and Karen won the Tim Whelan Port Fairy Tune Writing Competition, also in 2005, with her tune ‘Cockroach’.
Our new album, 'Cockroach and other stories...' was realeased at the end of 2007, and has fantastic airplay and media response. And thank you to the fabulous programmers at 3RRR, 3PBS, 774am, ABC FM, Radio National, 3MBS and 3CR for the support of both airplay and interviews. Yay!
Kazband have been performing regularly in Melbourne and beyond, making appearances on radio, at festivals, concerts, folk clubs, markets and more…
Hello!!! It's been awhile - sorry there hasn't been in any Australian shows for many months but we've been busy in Europe with a bunch of touring and we're now recording our new album in Berlin (scheduled for release in March). But to make up for it, here's a big (and silly) Merry Christmas from us (and from some hippos too) :
Some bold new artistic direction? Nah, Just us being silly!!! We did this track for our label's "Black Snow - the completely different Xmas compilation". (and of course, visit our youtube channel for a high quality version)
Wishing you a very silly Silly Season and we'll see you back in Australia sometime in 2010!
With an all star line up:
Eddie Perfect
Paul Capsis
The Conglomerate
Abbie Cardwell
Sophie Brous
Tommy Spender
Casey Benetto
Video Day
Steve Sedergreen
Jan Skubiszewski
Marc Testart
Xani Kolac
Peter 'The Dog' Burgess
Ben Hendry
Brother Grim
Jelly Tub Rollers
and
Clairy Baby Brown & The Bangin Rackettes
This film clip was made by Glass Kingdom
Films! Please visit www.belladonnathemovie.com
to see their feature film to be released later this year with Lamplight
appearing in the film and on the sound track!
Just when you thought the internet was safe ! We have MORE remixes up !!
"Mercy BJ" by BZO !! "Virgins do it Best" by LABAM "Mercy BJ" remixed by John Callaghan "Virgins do it best" remixed by Fielder Preview on our site....myspace.com/teamplastique
‘Awesome music. Your stuff is really incredible’ (Tommy Emmanuel). In this flamenco duo, Orlando performs his all original flamenco guitar compositions on the the guitar of his dreams, made in 1973 by Faustino Conde, Paco De Lucia's Luthier, accompanied by Michael Kontachristos on the cajon flamenco drum. A night of infectious gypsy flamenco by two of Melbourne's internationally recognised flamenco artists.
Boite World Music Cafe - 1 Mark Street North Fitzroy Bookings, enquiries 9417 1983 www.boite.com.au
Yeh .. I'm right in the thick of the fires .. it's always been at least 5-10kms away .. but burnt all around me .. so it's been pretty bad down here ..
We're just putting the finishing touches on your DVD .. i'm sure lisa will hook ya up with a copy! ..
Thanks very much for friendship... I like this opportunity to share our worlds... The Life of a man is made up of a series of dreams which write our history, as well as our children, who then start to write their own. I decided to continue writing mine as soon as I began to dream in early childhood. One doesn't need to stop the journey along the way. It is necessary to believe that the stars which light our way will never go out, and to continue to follow our dreams which inspire us in the most beautiful moments of our lives. If not, why is my star helping me to write so many fine melodies? I composed a suite for my dream, called " Melody for an Oscar", and I am convinced that one day someone will help me to reach for that Oscar in Hollywood, which I have always imagined in my dreams. WE CAN DO IT!. No matter what, my dreams have enhanced my musical creativity, and for that I am thankful. Warmest regards,
Hey Kazband. Thanks for the friend request - drop by from time to time as I plan to add new tunes often. I've just added a new blog - let us know what you think...
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