The Ukes
Encyclopedia
Stepan Pasicznyk is a British born musician, song writer, and translator of Ukrainian and Irish descent born in Luton, Bedfordshire. He was the accordionist and co-songwriter (Vorony & Kultura) of the original early 1990s line up of British band The Ukrainians
.
His band, The Ukes, play traditional Ukrainian music, in a folk rock style, and also traditional Ukrainian dance music. Concert appearances to date have been in the UK, Canada, France, and Germany.
As well as having recorded more traditional Ukrainian music and original songs about Ukraine in Ukrainian and English since leaving The Ukrainians, Stepan Pasicznyk also works as a session musician, having recorded on projects produced by Justin Sullivan
of New Model Army
, Phil Manzanera
, guitarist of Roxy Music
, and "Swill" Odgers of British Punk/Folk Group The Men They Couldn't Hang
's latest release "Elvis Lives Here" with his "Swagger Band". He sessioned on the last release by Ukrainian American duet Darka and Slavko
before they parted company. Other previous Ukrainian musical activity included playing accordion
for Reading based traditional dance ensemble Metelyk and a year with Ukrainian male voice choir Bulava. He plays with UK Waltham Cross based Ukrainian dance and general function band Zhnyva. His main instrument is accordion, but he also plays guitar, bass guitar, keyboards and mandolin.
He has translated songs from Ukrainian
into English for Ukrainian artist Lessia Horova, and translates traditional Ukrainian songs to English. Some of his other musical and media exploits include incidental music for BBC TV's Soccer enthusiasts show Row Z, preparing musical arrangement for a London
Theatre
production "Husbands and Lovers" by Hungarian playwright Ferenc Molnar
, and
recording introductory music for Canadian British Columbia
's longest running Ukrainian radio show, Nash Holos (Our Voice).
In late 2007 he played accordion for Welsh
folk rock band Here Be Dragons in Italy, and for their US gig and ABC TV debut for the Chicago Celtic Festival.
He toured with Here Be Dragons again in Italy in Spring 2011. In Summer 2011 he joined the movie production team of Ukrainian social and justice pressure group "Maidan".
Stepan is from a musical family. His second cousin on his maternal Irish
side was Eddie Rabbitt
, the Nashville country music star whose song "Kentucky Rain" was a hit for Elvis Presley
and whose song "Every Which Way But Loose" was the theme tune for a film starring Clint Eastwood
and an orangutan
.
The Ukrainians
The Ukrainians are a British band, which plays traditional Ukrainian music, heavily influenced by western post-punk.-Career:The Ukrainians were formed in 1990 by Wedding Present guitarist Peter Solowka, with singer/violinist Len Liggins and mandolin player Roman Remeynes, after all three had played...
.
His band, The Ukes, play traditional Ukrainian music, in a folk rock style, and also traditional Ukrainian dance music. Concert appearances to date have been in the UK, Canada, France, and Germany.
As well as having recorded more traditional Ukrainian music and original songs about Ukraine in Ukrainian and English since leaving The Ukrainians, Stepan Pasicznyk also works as a session musician, having recorded on projects produced by Justin Sullivan
Justin Sullivan
Justin Sullivan is an English singer and songwriter. He is also the frontman and lyricist of the British rock band New Model Army, which he formed in 1980 together with drummer Robert Heaton and bassist Stuart Morrow in their hometown of Bradford, Yorkshire...
of New Model Army
New Model Army (band)
New Model Army are an English rock band, who were formed in Bradford, West Yorkshire in 1980. They have been variously classified by Allmusic as post-punk and alternative rock.-Overview:...
, Phil Manzanera
Phil Manzanera
Phil Manzanera is a musician and record producer. He is the lead guitarist with Roxy Music. In 2006 Manzanera co-produced David Gilmour's album On An Island and played in Gilmour's band for tours in Europe and North America...
, guitarist of Roxy Music
Roxy Music
Roxy Music was a British art rock band formed in 1971 by Bryan Ferry, who became the group's lead vocalist and chief songwriter, and bassist Graham Simpson. The other members are Phil Manzanera , Andy Mackay and Paul Thompson . Former members include Brian Eno , and Eddie Jobson...
, and "Swill" Odgers of British Punk/Folk Group The Men They Couldn't Hang
The Men They Couldn't Hang
The Men They Couldn't Hang are a British folk punk group. The original group consisted of Stefan Cush , Paul Simmonds , Philip "Swill" Odgers , Jon Odgers and Shanne Bradley .- Controversy and success:Their first single, "The Green Fields...
's latest release "Elvis Lives Here" with his "Swagger Band". He sessioned on the last release by Ukrainian American duet Darka and Slavko
Darka and Slavko
Darka & Slavko is one of the most popular duos in Ukrainian diaspora and Ukraine.The duo "Darka & Slavko" was formed when Darka Konopada & Slavko Halatyn, both...
before they parted company. Other previous Ukrainian musical activity included playing accordion
Accordion
The 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....
for Reading based traditional dance ensemble Metelyk and a year with Ukrainian male voice choir Bulava. He plays with UK Waltham Cross based Ukrainian dance and general function band Zhnyva. His main instrument is accordion, but he also plays guitar, bass guitar, keyboards and mandolin.
He has translated songs from Ukrainian
Ukrainian language
Ukrainian is a language of the East Slavic subgroup of the Slavic languages. It is the official state language of Ukraine. Written Ukrainian uses a variant of the Cyrillic alphabet....
into English for Ukrainian artist Lessia Horova, and translates traditional Ukrainian songs to English. Some of his other musical and media exploits include incidental music for BBC TV's Soccer enthusiasts show Row Z, preparing musical arrangement for a 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...
Theatre
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
production "Husbands and Lovers" by Hungarian playwright Ferenc Molnar
Ferenc Molnár
LanguageFerenc Molnár was a Hungarian dramatist and novelist. His Americanized name was Franz Molnar...
, and
recording introductory music for Canadian British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
's longest running Ukrainian radio show, Nash Holos (Our Voice).
In late 2007 he played accordion for Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
folk rock band Here Be Dragons in Italy, and for their US gig and ABC TV debut for the Chicago Celtic Festival.
He toured with Here Be Dragons again in Italy in Spring 2011. In Summer 2011 he joined the movie production team of Ukrainian social and justice pressure group "Maidan".
Stepan is from a musical family. His second cousin on his maternal Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
side was Eddie Rabbitt
Eddie Rabbitt
Edward Thomas "Eddie" Rabbitt was an American singer-songwriter and musician. His career began as a songwriter in the late 1960s, springboarding to a recording career after composing hits such as "Kentucky Rain" for Elvis Presley in 1970 and "Pure Love" for Ronnie Milsap in 1974...
, the Nashville country music star whose song "Kentucky Rain" was a hit for Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
and whose song "Every Which Way But Loose" was the theme tune for a film starring Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood
Clinton "Clint" Eastwood, Jr. is an American film actor, director, producer, composer and politician. Eastwood first came to prominence as a supporting cast member in the TV series Rawhide...
and an orangutan
Orangutan
Orangutans are the only exclusively Asian genus of extant great ape. The largest living arboreal animals, they have proportionally longer arms than the other, more terrestrial, great apes. They are among the most intelligent primates and use a variety of sophisticated tools, also making sleeping...
.
External links
- The Ukes official band site