Double Bill: Russian Duo // Blue Moose and the Unbuttoned Zippers December 3, 2010

Plays American Old-Time music, Scandinavian and original tunes with a contemporary twist.

Founded in 2006 by four Berklee College of Music students, BMUZ decided to do something really different. They combined Scandinavian music and a nyckelharpa with American Old Time music, four and five string fiddles and a jazz and bluegrass guitarist. The result? A contemporary string band filled with epic triple fiddles, catchy melodies and driving rhythms full of raw energy and mashy quirk.

www.bmuz.net

Russian Duo is an international project born out of a love of traditional music and classical elegance. Oleg Kruglyakov is a balalaika virtuoso from Siberia and Terry Boyarsky is an American concert pianist with Russian heritage. Their performances are exuberant, compelling, and magical, with music that is at times reserved, soulful, vigorous, and mischievous. The Duo takes audiences on a journey across the span of Russian culture to favorites from around the world. From humorous pieces, elaborate sets of variations, pulsating dance music, rhythmic folk songs, gypsy melodies, lyrical romances, to ragtime, Russian Duo celebrates cross-cultural creativity, exploring the range of possibilities offered by the combination of balalaika, voice and piano.

www.russianduo.com

“Dazzling musicians . . . explosive talent” writes the Hartford, Connecticut Advocate

“With music of élan, finesse and passion so virtuosically rendered, this duo’s performances are irresistible.”

- Robert Spano, Music Director, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Official Website: http://www.bmuz.net