Leonid Soybelman
Encyclopedia
Leonid Soybelman is a Berlin-based musician and film composer of Jewish origin, leader of the band Ne Zhdali. The guitarist and singer, he also collaborated with Alec Kopyt in the "Poza" project, with bands Auktyon
, The Billy Tipton Memorial Saxophone Quartet
and many others. His musical style has roots from eastern European traditional Yiddish folk music, yet is played in more modern arrangements on the electric guitar, often accompanied by a band. His work, especially with Ne Zhdali, is well-known in Russia and countries of the former Soviet Union.
Originally from Moldavia
, he grew up in Tallinn
, USSR (now Estonia
), where he founded in the late 1980s the band Ne Zhdali together with his classmate Ilya Komarov. Later Soybelman moved to Berlin
, Germany and Komarov to Zürich
, Switzerland
. In the 1990s they reunited with Ne Zhdali in Western Europe, continuing touring and producing new albums.
As frontman of "Kletka Red" he performed together with Tony Buck
, Andy Ex and Joe Williamson. Their album Hijacking was produced by John Zorn
at his label Tzadik Records
in the "Radical Jewish Culture" series.
Soybelman composed the music for the Czech
film Something like happiness (Czech: Štěstí) 2005, portraying the melancholy lives of four friends who grew up together in the same block of flats in a former industrial town in northern Bohemia. The somewhat bleak backdrop of the film fits snugly with Soybelman's sombre and heartfelt music.
Auktyon
Auktyon or АукцЫон is a Russian avant-garde rock band from Saint Petersburg, Russia.The band was founded by Leonid Fyodorov and Oleg Garkusha at the Polytechnic Institute of Leningrad...
, The Billy Tipton Memorial Saxophone Quartet
The Billy Tipton Memorial Saxophone Quartet
The Billy Tipton Memorial Saxophone Quartet is an all-female, jazz saxophone quartet from Seattle, Washington. They actually consist of five members...
and many others. His musical style has roots from eastern European traditional Yiddish folk music, yet is played in more modern arrangements on the electric guitar, often accompanied by a band. His work, especially with Ne Zhdali, is well-known in Russia and countries of the former Soviet Union.
Originally from Moldavia
Moldavia
Moldavia is a geographic and historical region and former principality in Eastern Europe, corresponding to the territory between the Eastern Carpathians and the Dniester river...
, he grew up in Tallinn
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
, USSR (now Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
), where he founded in the late 1980s the band Ne Zhdali together with his classmate Ilya Komarov. Later Soybelman moved to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Germany and Komarov to Zürich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. In the 1990s they reunited with Ne Zhdali in Western Europe, continuing touring and producing new albums.
As frontman of "Kletka Red" he performed together with Tony Buck
Tony Buck
Tony Buck is a drummer and percussionist. He graduated from the New South Wales Conservatorium of Music , becoming involved in the Australian jazz scene....
, Andy Ex and Joe Williamson. Their album Hijacking was produced by John Zorn
John Zorn
John Zorn is an American avant-garde composer, arranger, record producer, saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist. Zorn is a prolific artist: he has hundreds of album credits as performer, composer, or producer...
at his label Tzadik Records
Tzadik Records
Tzadik Records is a record label based in New York City specialising in avant-garde and experimental music. The label was established by the eclectic composer and saxophonist John Zorn in 1995; Zorn is the executive producer of all Tzadik releases...
in the "Radical Jewish Culture" series.
Soybelman composed the music for the Czech
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
film Something like happiness (Czech: Štěstí) 2005, portraying the melancholy lives of four friends who grew up together in the same block of flats in a former industrial town in northern Bohemia. The somewhat bleak backdrop of the film fits snugly with Soybelman's sombre and heartfelt music.
External links
- Štěstí official website
- Estonias Unexpected Rock Artists, article by Artemy Troitskii from 1990