Ukraine 2006 will be marked by a 36-year anniversary of a national legend – professional music group named KOBZA. Nowadays KOBZA became one of true symbols of Ukrainian music, but also a huge Ukrainian trademark famous in many regions of the Earth, where the group’s touring concerts took place.
Today one can hardly remember 1970, when four young musicians joint their skills to create a small music ensemble. No one can explain the way the first KOBZA’s album was recorded in a single night. But all Ukrainian people would say, that in a year since that concerts of KOBZA gathered stadiums of spectators.
Later the group’s touring activity increased up to 250 concerts in a year. From time to time musicians had to play three or even four concerts in a day.
In 2002 KOBZA received a commercial proposition from the "Dynasty" studio, one of Ukraine’s top companies in the recording business market. The company became the first group’s producer in its long "noncommercial" history. After a year of joint work the group recorded material for two albums – a rock and a folk one. The "Dynasty" studio produced a big solo concert of KOBZA in the "Ukraine" Palace – the biggest concert hall of the country. Studio’s producers recorded and released a single of KOBZA feat. Tanok Na Maydani Kongo (a popular Ukrainian hip-hop team), shot a modern music video presenting it at the top national music channel "M1". The work has been done by the "Dynasty" studio, enriched KOBZA’s auditorium and the number of concert halls and media ready to work with it, due to the group’s modern sound and style.
In summer 2005 KOBZA’s cast has been transformed: new musicians and instruments, that had never been used yet, have been engaged in the group’s work. Olexander Rud’ (bass-guitar) was invited from another legendary Ukrainian group – "Krayany", Poltava. A 20-years old saxophonist Dmytro Lytvynets deals in KOBZA with lead vocals and music arrangements. The group’s drummer Yaroslav Vilchik was also famous working with Ruslana, the Eurovision-2004 winner. Experienced musicians playing flute and keyboards saved their positions in KOBZA untouchable.
Today KOBZA is working with the new album material, combining original Ukrainian music and singing with modern rhythms and sounds. KOBZA was one of those who supported Ukrainian nation by playing on Maydan, the Square of Independence, with the audience of total amount nearly one million spectators. Also the group is preparing a new concert show for its tour via Canada and the USA which is planned to be held in 2006. But there still are features that KOBZA can never loose. They are: the musicians’ professionalism, modern and original arrangements, huge vocal potential of the group, and its producers’ experience and professionalism.
Hereby there are some interesting facts from the group’s life, from its beginning till 2006:
KOBZA is associated with:
• the first big vinyl disk in Ukraine (1971)
• the first electro-bandore (traditional musical instrument of Ukraine) in the world (1971)
• the first Ukrainian vinyl disk published in the North America ("Forbidden in the USSR", Canada 1972)
• the first Ukrainian group to be left in a commercial tour abroad (Canada, 1982)
KOBZA’s touring map (1970-2004): • 1977: Czechoslovakia & Italy • 1980: Finland • 1982: Canada • 1985: Japan • 1991: Belgium, Luxemburg, the Netherlands • 1991-2006: Germany, France, Greece, Egypt, England, Denmark, Lybia, Russia
information, photo from official web site of the group: http://kobza.biz
