Oi Va Voi
Encyclopedia
Oi Va Voi is a British
band that takes its name from a Yiddish-derived exclamation popular in modern Hebrew
meaning, approximately, "Oh, dear!" It is an experimental
band from London
, England
, which formed in the late 1990s. Their sound draws on Jewish music
from both the Ashkenazic and Sephardic traditions, including both klezmer
and Judaeo-Spanish
music, as well as Eastern European, especially Hungarian folk music
, as well as contemporary electronic music
.
Guests:
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
band that takes its name from a Yiddish-derived exclamation popular in modern Hebrew
Modern Hebrew
Modern Hebrew , also known as Israeli Hebrew or Modern Israeli Hebrew, is the language spoken in Israel and in some Jewish communities worldwide, from the early 20th century to the present....
meaning, approximately, "Oh, dear!" It is an experimental
Experimental music
Experimental music refers, in the English-language literature, to a compositional tradition which arose in the mid-20th century, applied particularly in North America to music composed in such a way that its outcome is unforeseeable. Its most famous and influential exponent was John Cage...
band from London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, which formed in the late 1990s. Their sound draws on Jewish music
Jewish music
Jewish music is the music and melodies of the Jewish People which have evolved over time throughout the long course of Jewish History. In some instances Jewish Music is of a religious nature, spiritual songs and refrains are common in Jewish Services throughout the world, while other times, it is...
from both the Ashkenazic and Sephardic traditions, including both klezmer
Klezmer
Klezmer is a musical tradition of the Ashkenazic Jews of Eastern Europe. Played by professional musicians called klezmorim, the genre originally consisted largely of dance tunes and instrumental display pieces for weddings and other celebrations...
and Judaeo-Spanish
Judaeo-Spanish
Judaeo-Spanish , in Israel commonly referred to as Ladino, and known locally as Judezmo, Djudeo-Espanyol, Djudezmo, Djudeo-Kasteyano, Spaniolit and other names, is a Romance language derived from Old Spanish...
music, as well as Eastern European, especially Hungarian folk music
Hungarian folk music
Hungarian folk music includes a broad array of styles, including the recruitment dance verbunkos, the csárdás and nóta.During the 20th century, Hungarian composers were influenced by the traditional music of their nation which may be considered as a repeat of the early "nationalist" movement of the...
, as well as contemporary electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
.
Current band members
- Nik Ammar (guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s, mandolinMandolinA mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
, vocals, production), - Josh Breslaw (drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
, production), - Matt Jury (bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
), - Steve Levi (clarinetClarinetThe clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
, vocals), - David Orchant (trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
),
Guests:
- Anna PhoebeAnna PhoebeAnna Phoebe , is a London-based violinist, who is known for her proficiency in many musical genres, including rock, folk, jazz, Celtic, and Middle Eastern music.-Biography:...
(violin) - Lucy Shaw (bass)
- Bridgette Amofah (vocals)
- Alice McLaughlin (vocals)
Former band members
- Sophie SolomonSophie SolomonSophie Solomon is a British violinist, songwriter and composer who fuses many different musical influences into her music. In January 2012 she will take up the Directorship of the Jewish Music Institute, SOAS.-Early life:...
(violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, violaViolaThe viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, accordionAccordionThe accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
, melodicaMelodicaThe melodica, also known as the "blow-organ" or "key-flute", is a free-reed instrument similar to the melodeon and harmonica. It has a musical keyboard on top, and is played by blowing air through a mouthpiece that fits into a hole in the side of the instrument. Pressing a key opens a hole,...
), a founding member of the band who left in 2006 to launch her solo career. - Lemez Lovaz (trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, songwriting, lyricsLyricsLyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
), songwriter and lyricist, a founding member of the band who left in 2007. - Leo Bryant (bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
)
Associated acts
- Anna PhoebeAnna PhoebeAnna Phoebe , is a London-based violinist, who is known for her proficiency in many musical genres, including rock, folk, jazz, Celtic, and Middle Eastern music.-Biography:...
- Maiya James of Spengler
- Earl Zinger (a.k.a. Rob Gallagher) of GallianoGalliano (band)Galliano were a London-based acid jazz group, which started in 1988. The group was the first signing to Eddie Piller and Gilles Peterson's Talkin' Loud label. The original members were Rob Gallagher , Constantine Weir , Michael Snaith , and Crispin Robinson...
featured on the Laughter Through TearsLaughter Through TearsLaughter Through Tears is the second album released by London, England based experimental band Oi Va Voi. Some of the tracks on the album were originally on the band's debut Digital Folklore, one example is the Hungarian folk song "A Csitári" whose vocals were performed by a male singer in the...
album - KT TunstallKT TunstallKate Victoria "KT" Tunstall is a Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist from St Andrews, Scotland. She broke into the public eye with a 2004 live solo performance of her song "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" on Later... with Jools Holland...
, though never an official member of the band, featured on the Laughter Through TearsLaughter Through TearsLaughter Through Tears is the second album released by London, England based experimental band Oi Va Voi. Some of the tracks on the album were originally on the band's debut Digital Folklore, one example is the Hungarian folk song "A Csitári" whose vocals were performed by a male singer in the...
album and was a regular member of the live set-up. Her solo career then took off towards the end of 2004. - Uzbek musician Sevara NazarkhanSevara NazarkhanSevara Nazarkhan is an Uzbek singer, songwriter, and musician. She was born 1978 in Andijan city, Uzbek SSR....
featured on the Laughter Through Tears album - Haylie EckerHaylie EckerHaylie Ecker is a founding member and the former first violinist of the multi-platinum selling classical crossover string quartet Bond. She left Bond in 2008 to become a mother. She plays a 1751 J.B. Guadagnini.- Biography :...
Albums
- Digital FolkloreDigital FolkloreDigital Folklore is the self published debut of London, England based experimental band Oi Va Voi. Some of the tracks on the album were later abridged and re-recorded for Laughter Through Tears, one example is the Hungarian folk song "A Csitari" whose vocals were performed by a female singer on the...
(2002) - Laughter Through TearsLaughter Through TearsLaughter Through Tears is the second album released by London, England based experimental band Oi Va Voi. Some of the tracks on the album were originally on the band's debut Digital Folklore, one example is the Hungarian folk song "A Csitári" whose vocals were performed by a male singer in the...
(2003) - Oi Va VoiOi Va Voi (album)Oi Va Voi is the third studio album released by London, England based experimental band Oi Va Voi.-Track listing:-Personnel:*Nik Ammar - guitar, vocals*Bridgette Amofah - vocals*Josh Breslaw - drums*Stephen Levi - clarinet*David Orchant - trumpet...
(2007) - Travelling the Face of the GlobeTravelling the Face of the Globe-Personnel:*Nik Ammar - guitar, charango, strumstick, kazoo, percussion*Bridgette Amofah - vocals*Josh Breslaw - drums, percussion*Steve Levi - clarinet, vocals*Dave Orchant - trumpet*Anna Phoebe - violin*Lucy Shaw - double bass, electric bass-External links:...
(2009)
Singles
- "7 Brothers" (2003)
- "Refugee" (2004)
- "Yesterday's Mistakes" (2004)
- "Yuri" (2007)
- "Every Time" (2009)
Awards
- Oi Va Voi won an Edison award for Album of the Year 2004 Netherlands
- Oi Va Voi was nominated for the BBC Awards for World Music 2003 in the Boundary Crossing category.