Melo-M: Great Cello Band with Perfect Covers

Recently, I write posts about violin performers. Today, I would like to talk about a cello band. I think I am in stringed instruments mood that I write more posts about this genre and performers. There are many cello bands. Absolutely, Apocalyptica is the most well-known cello band of the world. I heard many cello bands but, many of them have creativity and diversity problem. They make music in ordinary way. I discovered a cello band from Latvia, Riga. The band’s name is Melo-M. The band consists of three classically educated cellists. They rearrange and play well-known and reputed songs in rock music forms. I found them on YouTube first. I though it was an ordinary cello band until I heard their exciting music. It is very good to listen to songs I like in a unique form. The band’s name Melo-M name is derived from melomania. You could buy their album by clicking on the players.

Band members Kārlis Auzāns, Miķelis Dobičins, and Jānis Pauls are classically educated persons that they still continue their studies. Melo-M also shared the stage with Apocalyptica, Maizie Williams (Boney M), Robert Wells and some Latvian performers. I could say their live performance is as good as their performance in studio albums. I really appreciate their live shows. You could listen to such famous songs as: Mission Impossible Theme, Misirlou, The Final Countdown, Those Were the Days, Come Together, I Will Survive, Daddy Cool and more. Hearing rock and pop elements with great cello rhythms and solos is perfect.

Let us see Melo-M discography and my suggestions. You could buy their albums or songs, if you follow links in the player or website of the band.

• Melo-M (2005) is a successful debut album. Rock on the Ice, Dzimta Valoda, Dzejnieks are my favorites. I could say it is amazing and exciting album. Do not lose it!
• Singalongs (2007) is a perfect album that you could find many cover versions like Mission Impossible, Daddy Cool (with Maizie Williams), Take on Me, Ghost Busters, I Will Survive and more. I suggest the album extremely. Unique and exciting covers make you feel good.
• Around the World (2009) is another cover album that you will like. Misirlou, Zorba’s Dance, Hava Nagila, El Condor Pasa and Greensleeves are my favorite covers in the album. I suggest the album extremely.
• Phantasy of the Opera (2010) is the last album of the band. You could find some parts of famous classical music compositions from reputed composers. Barber of Rossini, Boogie Bumblebee, Diary of Carmen, Verdi (ct), and Gershwintime are my favorites. I also suggest the album extremely.

Melo-M is a cello band that talented musicians rearrange music with their uniqueness. I believe that you will enjoy every seconds of their music. You could visit their official website to watch their live performance videos and more information. You also could buy their songs or albums from their website. Support the young band so that they will make new exciting albums!

http://www.melo-m.lv

Bye for now!

Special Note: Songs have been placed here upon permission of the group. You could buy the album, if you click the player.

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Michal Jelonek: Violin Oriented Rock Music from Poland

I really like classical music oriented rock music. Yesterday I wrote about Anna Phoebe who performs rock with her violin. Today, I would like to write about the other violin hero Jelonek. Michal Jelonek is a Polish musician and composer who perform rock music with classical music elements. If you like Anna Phoebe, you will like him too. It is really nice to hear classical melodies with heavy guitar riffs. Anna combines rock music with eastern melodies; he combines rock music with classical music. Both musicians are my favorites in this genre that I suggest them extremely. Michal Jelonek is a reputed musician and composer in Poland that he has been featured on over 30 albums from Polish musicians and groups. His contribution of those albums ranging from rock to classical music, folk, pop, heavy metal and world music.

This video has been placed here upon permission of Michal Jelonek. Visit his website for more materials.

Michal Jelonek worked with many musicians in various genres that he played over 1600 concerts in many countries like Brazil, Mexico, Germany, Sweden, Russia, and some Middle and Eastern Europe countries. He also makes music for advertisements and movies. He released two albums in 2007 and 2001. I really appreciate the progressive line in his music that progressive elements make his music unique and original. He plays with nine musicians in his albums that instrumental variety is very good. He also has a metal band named in Hunter.

Let us see Michal Jelonek’s discography and some of my suggestions. If you check his website, you could see his collaborations with the other musicians. I will only write about his solo albums.

• Jelonek (2007) is the self titled debut album that it is baroque influenced album. This album is my favorite that guitar sound was adjusted very well. BaRock, B-East, Vendome 1212, A Funeral of a Provincial Vampire, War In The Kids Room, Mosquito Flight, and Pizzicato-Asceticism are my favorite songs. I could say the album is a masterpiece. You will enjoy hearing every song in the album. Do not hesitate to buy this album, if you want to hear baroque melodies with hot guitar riffs. You also could hear some melodies from Vivaldi!
• Revenge (2011) is the last album of Michal Jelonek. Although this album contains more heavy metal elements, he still keeps progressive line. Cockroaches Empire, Owl's Pathetic Song, Romantic Revenge, Sabre Dance, Schizo Ferret, Cementary Woodpeacker Promised Kadish, and Lord Mantis Dilemma. I also suggest the album extremely.

 

Michal Jelonek is a talented violinist and composer that both Jelonek and Revenge albums satisfy your expectations from violin oriented rock music. If you are a rock fan, if you like violin performers do not lose him. You could visit Michal Jelonek’s website to listen and buy his albums. You also could find video clips and more information about Jelonek and his band Hunter. He also has a live DVD named in Przystanek Woodstock 2010. I also suggest the DVD to watch his perfect live performance.

http://www.jelonek.art.pl/en

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Kronos Quartet: World Music meets Stringed Instruments

We met a perfect string group after a movie in 2000. Requiem for a Dream is a great movie that it made us to meet with a great band Kronos Quartet. Actually, we were very late to know the great quartet plays more than 35 years. Kronos Quartet has about 43 studio albums, 5 soundtrack albums, 2 compilation albums, 3 video albums. They also have around 29 contributions in some albums from famous groups and artists. A musical treasure makes you feel very good to meet with a great band. They do not follow any genre that we could watch their performance in many genres from rock to classical music. They also use ethnic and world music elements in some of their albums. Although some of reviewers say, Kronos Quartet is not successful to perform world music, ignore their ideas and hear these world music experts. You could find different tastes in their different albums. Sometimes, they perform tangos from Astor Piazolla; sometimes, they perform Purple Haze from Jimi Hendrix. You will enjoy hearing Kronos Quartet’s Grammy awarded music.

This item has been taken from Kronos Quartet Official Website. It is free material to share.

Kronos Quartet’s current lineup is John Sherba (violin), Jeffrey Zeigler (cello), David Harrington (violin), and Hank Dutt (viola). The band has founded by David Harrington in 1973. Since early 80’s, Kronos Quartet has collaborations with artists such as Dave Matthews, Nelly Furtado, Nine Inch Nails, The Tiger Lilies, and Joan Armatrading. They have contribution in more than 30 albums from reputed musicians. The band also has five soundtrack albums. They recorded Requiem for a Dream, Dracula, The Fountain, Mishima a Life in Four Chapters and 2081 soundtracks. Many authorities awarded the band. They won Musician of the Year award from Musical America, Grammy Award for Best Chamber Music Performance in 2004, Polar Music Prize 2011 and many awards from different authorities.

Kronos Quartet is a band that they some interesting and creative projects in world music. They have collaborations with some world music performers from Azerbaijan, Finland, China and many countries. They have an album with Finish accordionist Kimmo Pohjonen and Samuli Kosminen named in Uniko. It is a great project suggested extremely. Especially their performance in Plasma should be heard. The band also has collaboration with Azerbaijani world music performer Alim Qasimov. You could get more information about projects from Kronos Quartet’s official website. You should see their performance in Music from 4 Fences. It is an interesting idea to show music’s different face. Kronos Quartet organized a contest to meet with young musicians and support their projects in 2003.

It is hard to list Kronos Quartet albums here. You could find a link to list of the band’s albums. You also could find more information about their collaborations with the other artists. Please, click here to see the list. You could find many albums from many genres. Requiem for a Dream soundtrack could be good start, although it is a bit sad. Uniko album released in 2011 is another extremely suggested album. Terry Riley: Cadenza on the Night Plain (1985), Pieces of Africa (1992), and At the Grave of Richard Wagner (1993) albums are also my favorite albums. You could find more Kronos Quartet performances from world’s reputed musicians in their albums.

Kronos Quartet provides a musical treasure to us. Every albums of the group should be listened in my humble opinion. If you like classical music, if you like world music from different origins, do not lose the band. You will hear music of world with stringed instruments. You could visit the band’s official website to get to know more about their interesting projects and buy their albums.

http://kronosquartet.org

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Klazz Brothers: Classical Music Meets Cuban Music and Latin Jazz

Do you like combinations of jazz? Do you like Latin jazz and classical music? Today we will know more about a jazz band fuses jazz with many styles like Latin Jazz, Cuban Jazz, Classical Music and Opera. If you have never heard about Klazz Brothers, read this article carefully. Jazz lovers, classical music lovers and Latin and Cuban Jazz lovers will appreciate Klazz Brothers’ Latinized and Cubanized based jazz performance. Their musical curiosity and willingness make their music in experimental line. We could observe development of their music year by year. It is not a static minded jazz band. Germany based jazz band Klazz Brothers has been founded in 1999 to combine Jazz and Classical Music. An inspiration of two different world’s music arises in their music. Experimental willingness makes Klazz Brothers one of the few excellent jazz groups.

Klazz Brothers formed in Tobias Forster (piano), Killian Forster (bass), and Tim Hahn (drums). The band is an awarded jazz trio that they won Echo Klassik award in 2003 and 2006, the Jazz Award in 2003, 2005 and 2007. The band also was nominated for Grammy 2006. Klazz Brothers were playing classic music and jazz combinations as a trio. Finally, their inspirations from Latin and Cuban music affect their curiosity and willingness to make music in experimental way by using Latin, Cuban and Classical Music Elements. They met two Cuban percussionists Alexis Herrera Estevez and Elio Rodriguez Luis and they trio became a quintet. The quintet Klazz Brothers and Cuban Percussion is a project band plays music by combining Classical Music, Opera, Latin Music and Cuban elements. They have many albums in this inspiration.

Klazz Brothers also has different projects with vocalist Edson Cordeiro and pianist David Gazarov. David Gazarov also involved in the project Klazz Brothers and Cuban Percussion albums. They have separated album with him for Chopin compositions. Edson Cordeiro is an interesting vocalist that album made with him is very good fusion with jazz and vocal. They also have another project to make some old disco songs like YMCA, and Dancing Queen in jazz format with powerful vocal. Those unique elements and contribution of the other artists make their musical diversity is very high. Let us see some of their albums and some suggestions.

Classic Meets Cuba is an album that famous classical music melodies combined with Latin Jazz and Cuban elements. It is a perfect album that spontaneous improvisations make a person fascinate. You could find melodies from Mozart, Schubert, Bach, Brahms, and Beethoven. It is extremely suggested album combined two different worlds in a unique music. It is very interesting to hear famous classic melodies in Latin Jazz form.

Jazz Meets Cuba is an album that classic jazz songs performed with hot Latin rhythms and Cuban folk songs performed in jazz style. You could find songs from Miles Davis and many famous jazz performers. Do not lose the album if you like classic jazz.

 

Symphonic Salsa is album that classical music elements with Latin jazz and hot salsa improvisations combined perfectly. You also could hear some parts of original melodies. Mozart, Bizet, Liszt, Mendelssohn, Strauss, Beethoven, Brahms, and Bach’s melodies fused with salsa and hot Latin rhythms. It is also extremely suggested album.

Mozart Meets Cuba is an awarded album that it was nominated for Grammy award as well. Some melodies from the album used in movies like Collateral and Hitch movies. Famous Mozart symphonies dance with Latin jazz and salsa. Do not lose the album if you like Mozart and jazz. It is a masterpiece.

Opera Meets Cuba is another masterpiece album that famous operas from Wagner, Verdi, and Gershwin combined with Cuban music perfectly. Opera lovers should buy the album to hear hot Cubanized rhythms in opera and classical music.

 

Klazz Meet the Voice is an album made together with Edson Cordeiro. His unique vocal, Klazz Brothers’ virtuoso sound, and famous melodies make the album one of my favorites. It is extremely suggested album that jazz lovers should buy the album.

Chopin Lounge is an album made by Klazz Brothers and pianist David Gazarov. You could find Chopin melodies in the album.

Klazz Brother is an excellent jazz ensemble that their musical diversity and unique styles make them one of my favorites. I believe that you will enjoy hearing their music. You could visit Sony Music’s official website for Klazz Brothers and Cuban Percussion to find further information and album previews. You also could visit their official MySpace profile for preview songs. It is a good jazz fusion combines classical music and Latin and Cuban rhythms.

http://www.sonyclassical.de/klazzbrothers/e_bilder.html

http://www.myspace.com/klazzbrothers

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Therion: Classical Music and Opera in Gothic Metal

Therion! It is a gothic metal band from Sweden. Maybe some of readers will close the page, after hearing heavy metal. If you think in this way, reconsider your decision. Otherwise, you will lose one of the best classical music with rock album. Several days ago I sent a post about Danney Alkana who performs classical music by electric guitar. If you want to know him, you could click here to read. His virtuosity will impress you. Anyway, it was fashionable that record an album with classical music orchestra. We listened to classical music in different form, styles and albums. In this article, I will give short information about Therion, and I will introduce one of the best classical music with rock and heavy metal album the Miskolc Experience. I believe that you will enjoy with Therion and their melodic songs.

 

All the permissions were taken from Therion’s recording company Nuclear Blast Europe to issue this video.

Therion is a Sweden based gothic metal band. It is well known and high reputed band in gothic music world. Classical music elements, well arranged chorus, and rock music elements with gothic line make their music impressive. There are many gothic and melodic metal bands, but Therion is one of the best. Therion have a song named in the Rise of Sodom and Gomorrah. I know more than fifty people that they buy Therion albums, after they listen to this song. You also could find this song in the album introduced below. I could suggest Therion’s Vovin album for beginning. Deggial, Sirius B and Lemuria is the other suggested albums. If you like hard electric guitar melodies and perfect choir music, I could suggest the Secret of the Runes album. It is a concept album about Scandinavian Mythology. Their live performance is very funny and nice. I have been to their concerts three times in Istanbul. It is really appreciate able performance.

The Miskolc Experience! The album fuses classical music, opera and heavy metal. Could you imagine that a rock group involved in an opera festival? Miskolc is a city in Hungary. In every summer International Opera Festival of Miskolc is held. Maybe, Therion is the first band invited to an international classical music organization. Therion played with classical music orchestra, Miskolc Bartok Choir and Choir of Miskolc National Theatre, and these records were arranged as an album. The album consists of double CD’s. The first CD contains songs from some of the most famous composers like Mozart, Verdi, Dvorak, and Wagner. The second CD consists of Therion’s own songs with the orchestra and choir. Let’s see the songs in the album.

CD 1

• Clavicula Nox: It’s Therion’s own song and a good start.
• Dvorak: Excerpt from Symphony no. 9: Harmony between orchestra and group is perfect.
• Verdi: Vedi! Le Fosche Notturne Spotigle from Il Trovatore: It’s a masterpiece. Maybe it is the best arrangement in this album. You should listen to choir. It is extremely suggested.
• Mozart: "Dies Irae" from Reqiuem: It was my dream. A rock band plays Requiem perfectly. I hope Therion plays all parts of Requiem. I believe that it will be excellent with the band’s musicality.
• Saint-Saens: Excerpt from Symphony no. 3
• Wagner: "Notung! Notung! Niedliches Schwert!" from the Ring: It is an opera with rock. Tenors’ performances are very good.
• Wagner: Excerpt from the Overture from Rienzi: Harmony between the band and the orchestra is perfect.
• Wagner: Second Part of "Der Tag Ist Da" from Rienzi: Heavy metal opera! Tenors and sopranos’ performances should be appreciated.
• Wagner: First Part of "Herbei! Herbei!" from Rienzi: A perfect opera again.

CD 2

This CD contains Therion Songs with classical music orchestra and choir. It is as perfect as the first CD.

• Blood of Kingu
• Sirius B
• Lemuria
• Eternal Return
• Draconian Trilogy: Extremely suggested.
• Schwarzalbenheim: Extremely suggested.
• Via Nocturna
• The Rise of Sodom and Gomorrah: After you will listen to the song, you will be a Therion fan.
• Grand Finale

Therion gave us a nice album to appreciate it. Harmony between rock and classical music elements, choir performance, and opera in heavy metal are really perfect to listen. It’s a masterpiece; it’s one of the best in this concept. Don’t lose the album. Please find official website of Therion. You could find more information about their albums, listen to previews, and buy their albums. Please, also check their MySpace profile to listen to some preview songs. Enjoy it!

http://www.megatherion.com

http://www.myspace.com/therion

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Danney Alkana: Classical Music Loves Rock

In this post, we will review an album from a multi skilled rock guitarist from the United States. I like to write about this kind of albums and artist on the world music blog. If you listen to his guitar, you feel harmony between Classical Music and rock. I like Classical Music featured rock albums and this one is one of my best. There are some good examples in world music. Everybody knows Yngwie Malmsteen the virtuous guitar player. He has two albums played in this sound. Nonetheless, many of famous rock groups have albums with classical music orchestras. It is a good evidence to show rock loves classical music. I also introduced a band named in Ulytau like that in my previous posts. All guitarists could play classical music, but to find original ones are very difficult. Therefore, in this post, we will get to know Danney Alkana the guitarist plays classical music.

Danney Alkana had a rock band in early 80’s and the band was broken up. He used to work in a music market without making music. One day his customer requests him to play his music and it rekindles him to make music once again. Finally, he decided to make an album in a unique concept. Although he is a rock music player, his world music journey began with classical music and piano when he was a child. He is very skilled musician that he is able to play some instruments.

Musicians must be careful when they blend music styles. If they make a mistake, the mistakes make their music ordinary and low-key. There are so many scandal albums on world music market. Danney Alkana is a multi talented musician that he played almost all instruments like guitar, bass, drum, and keyboard in his album.

He has only one album that classical music and rock merged professionally. His musicality influenced by Baroque period music and he made an album, song chosen from this period. The album’s name is Rock the Bach and there 10 memorable compositions from Bach, Mozart, Vivaldi, Beethoven, and Paganini. Rock the Bach is a very good album that all collectors should have. He made a technically perfect album that it does not disturb its listener.

Let us see the track list of Rock the Bach album,

1. Ludving van Beethoven's fifth Symphony
2. Antonio Vivaldi’s Spring
3. Antonio Vivaldi’s Concerto for Strings
4. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s A Little Serenade
5. Johann Sebastian Bach’s Sleepers Awake
6. Niccolo Paganini’s Sonata Concertata 
7. Antonio Vivaldi’s Concerto in B Minor 
8. Peter Warlock’s Basse Danse
9. Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings
10. Ludving van Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony Complete

Almost all tracks of the album are fascinating and made diligently. You will never feel regret if you get this album. Danney Alkana brings you to baroque period by fusing classical music and rock. This is one the most important rock based classical music album on the world music.

Do not forget to buy Rock the Bach album to support him to provide us new tasty projects. Please find his official profile page given below. You could listen some of his songs on the profile. It is a good opportunity to understand his musical background.

http://www.myspace.com/danneyalkana

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Ulytau: Classical Music meets Folk and Rock

Have you ever listened a group makes Rock music blended with classical music and local elements? There are some rock based classical music albums from famous singers and groups such as Yngwie Malmsteen, Trans Siberian Orchestra, Danney Alkana. This kind of music is one of my favorites, I will post some reviews about this kind of albums in my following posts. Today, we will know more about a group Kazakhstan which performs metal music combined with classical music and local music elements.The group was founded on 2001 to merge Western and Eastern music with some traditional Turkish instruments. Their music combines the sound of violin and electric guitar with the Dombra. It is a traditional two stringed instrument from middle Asia which made by the old Turkish civilizations in Middle Asia.

We can say Ulytau is a trio including violin, dombra and electric guitar. The group performs instrumental music. Although their music is Heavy Metal, the music is easy listening, likeable and beautiful. Alua Makanova plays violin, Maxim Kichigin plays guitar, and Erjan Alimbetov plays Dombra. And, there are some guest performers who play bass, drum, keyboard and so on. They only have one album released in 2006. The group also released a video DVD in 2009. The group had some concerts in Germany, England, Scotland, Poland, USA, Turkey, China, Japan and Russia.

Their album Jumyr-Kylysh was released in 2006, the same album released in Germany in 2009 named in Two Warriors. Let’s know more about the album.

Track list of the album is given below. 

• Adai
• Winter (Four Seasons)
• Kurishiler
• Jumyr-Kylysh
• Ata Tolgauy
• Toccata and Fugue
• Turkish March
• Yapyr-Ai (folk song)
• Teriskakpai

• Kokil

At the first sight to the track list, we can see some acquaintance songs. Winter Four Season is the Winter section of Antonio Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, Turkish March is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s famous march, and Toccata and Fugue is Johann Sebastian Bach’s immortal composition. They perform those compositions very well and harmony between guitar and violin is perfect. They are extremely suggested songs in the album.

Adai is their awarded song. They were awarded the Golden Disc for this song. Jumyr-Kylysh is a perfect song with Dombra, Violin and Guitar. You should listen Dombra’s sound especially. Two stringed instruments made the music likeable.

They only have one album and this album deserves your interest. Buy it to support the group to get new albums. I believe that they will carry their music to higher levels. Finally, the group’s website is given below. You can listen some of their songs on their MySpace profile.

http://www.ulytau.ru
http://www.myspace.com/ulytau

Bye for now.

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