Arsen Shomakhov: From Russia With Blues
| by Dave King, Cross Harp Chronicles | July 08, 2007
When and how was Blues music introduced in Europe? Was it introduced by early twentieth century European travelers who, returning to their respective countries took with them what they thought was a novel American sound, or by Black soldiers who participating in military theaters of war during WWI may have entertained the European ally during a lull in combat, who, remembering the songs shared introduced what they had heard to the European musician? Or has it always existed in Europe, introduced with the migration of African Muslims as their influences spread throughout the world, as a growing number of ethnomusicologists and academics now think. * How or when is obviously a matter of academic study. What is certain is that by the early 1900s Jazz with a strong Blues influence was being enjoyed throughout Europe. This was true in Russia as well.
By the early, or mid-sixties, when Paul Butterfield was bridging the racial divide musically in Chicago, the Brits geared up for and launched the first of what was termed the "British Invasion," which, with the arrival of groups such as the Kinks, the Animals, the Yardbirds, the Rolling Stones, and other similar British bands., introduced many white kids for the very first time to a music which had existed in their back yards since the 1800s The United States was not the only nation so affected by this British Invasion. These bands traveled Europe and the world as well.
Although Soviet Russia had tried hard to repress corrupting Western influence,. when Gorbachev's perestroika brought barriers to certain foreign music media down, a powerful Russian youth protest movement appeared, centered around Rock N' Roll. This would be replaced by a growing number of Russian youth who, not content with the British sound, investigated its earliest origins in Delta Blues.
Since the fall of communism in the early 1990s, Russians have had to deal with enormous displacement and social upheaval, much as former Black slaves, it is thought, experienced after post-emancipation in the southern United States a hundred years earlier. The Blues offered a spirit of optimism that helped endure and overcome the obstacles by which Russians were confronted . Even though they may not have understood the English words being sung, the music offered a spirit of optimism that fed the Russian soul. It was also a voice of shifting political views, and racial tolerance and reverence. It also offered an alternative to the crass commercialization of pop music that permeated Russian airwaves, something from. which Russian musical converts vowed to protect the Blues.
It was at approximately this time that Russian Blues guitarist Arsen Shomakhov first picked up his "axe" and began to play.professionally
By August of 1998. when the Russian ruble collapsed and lost two thirds of its value in three weeks, Russia's "Blues boom" collapsed as well. Many of Moscow's Blues clubs were forced to close, which undermined its fan base as its residents had far fewer venues at which they could view live performances.. But two of Russia's biggest radio stations continue to play the Blues and Russian Blues fans work to keep the "Blues alive. "
The days of having troubles leaving Russia or crossing international borders are long gone.. Within the past year Arsen has become an international artist.
We were introduced to Arsen through his friend Sandy here stateside through whom we arranged this interview.. This interview we hope will serve as an introduction. Arsen has already consented to giving us another sometime in the future. We are certain we are going to be hearing a lot more of him..
CHC: Where are you from in Russia?
Arsen: The name of my hometown is Nalchik, it is located in Russia's North Caucasus and it is the capital of Kabardino-Balkaria Republic.
CHC: Is this a heavily populated area? (If not) How far are you from the nearest large city?
Arsen: There's over 250 thousand people in Nalchik, the nearest large city is Rostov, with the population of about 1 million people.
CHC: Can you describe life where you live?
Arsen: Usual life of an average provincial town. Beautiful people and nature, a bit dull culture wise, but I guess that is typical of any small town
CHC: How has life changed since the collapse of the Soviet Union for the average Russian citizen?
Arsen: That's a topic for a serious study; I wouldn't be able to answer this question in a few lines. I guess the book entitled "Russia Gets the Blues" written by Michael Urban, American sociologist and Blues lover, has all the answers*. By the way, Michael Urban wrote liner notes to my first American release "Dangerous".
CHC: Has Russia really worked to repress western influences? In what ways?
Arsen: I remember being a kid I had a problem to listen to American and British musical radio programs, because they were jammed. Also you wouldn't be able to buy any rock or Blues records in the shops.
CHC: How did you first hear the Blues?
Arsen: The first "Blues" I heard was "Basin Street Blues" performed by Lois Armstrong, and I think I was 4 or 5 at the time.
CHC: Who were your earliest Blues/Jazz influences?
Arsen: My elder brother had a great collection of tapes, so already in my early childhood I had a good idea about rock bands like Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Beatles, etc. I discovered blues later, when I was 10 or 12. The first truly blues record I heard was a compilation of early American blues masters songs, released in Russia. That's how I got to know Muddy Waters and Howling Wolf. At the same time I listened a lot to Jimi Hendrix, John McLaughlin, Robert Fripp and other great guitarists, without paying much attention to styles; I just loved to listen to good music. Later I heard Stevie Ray Vaughan and instantly become addicted to his playing. Among my current Blues influences, I would name T-bone Walker, Freddy King, Jimmy Vaughan, Charlie Baty, Ronnie Earl, Alex Shultz, Junior Watson, Rick Holmstrom, Vidar Busk, and many others.
CHC What is nightlife like in the bigger cities in Russia?
Arsen: Nightlife in Moscow is not different from any European city, you have all sorts of night clubs and discos in Moscow, there's several good clubs for Blues as well
CHC: Does the Blues have a big following, many people who enjoy it in Russia?
Arsen: It would be wrong to say that Blues has more fans than pop or rock in Russia, but the number of blues fans is growing, due to better access to blues records, internet, and more frequent live concerts of American and European blues artists.
CHC: You sing and write English very well. Where did you learn English?
Arsen: Thanks! I studied English at the University of Nalchik. We have great English teachers here.
CHC: When did you start playing guitar?
Arsen: I started playing at around 14 or so. My brother had an acoustic guitar, so I fooled around with it quite often. But I only got my first electric guitar at the age of 16. That was a cheap copy of Fender, but I liked it so much. Unfortunately it was stolen.
CHC: What kind of guitar/equipment do you play? The other guys in your band? Where is it manufactured?
Arsen: My main guitar is a Fender Strat Deluxe plus, I also sometimes use a Washburn semi hollowbody. I play through a Marshall JTM 30, and planning to buy a Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb, this amp has such a sweet clean tone. So the only Russian made gear I use is the tubes in my amp. ))
My bass player plays a custom made 5 string bass, the drummer plays Pearl drums and Zildjian Avedis cymbals.
CHC: There is a distinctive difference in sound from your CD "Troublemaker" to your CD "Dangerous". Can you tell us of each CD. Which did you play first, Jazz or the Blues?
Arsen: Up to now I recorded 3 CDs. My First CD "Heavy Steppin'" has a blues-rock, or even rock sound. Next album I recorded was "Troublemaker" that was released in 2003, you can find there some funky grooves and Texas shuffles. In my latest record I tried to cover a wider range of styles, with the main accent on my guitar, of course, but at the same time I tried to make it sound less aggressive in some tunes, kind of jazzy. . This album entitled "Dangerous" was released on Blues Leaf records, American label run by Joe Morabia.
CHC: Your friend Sandy says that the two of you met when you competed at the 2005 International Blues Challenge (IBC), in Memphis, Tennessee. To qualify did you compete with other Blues bands where you are from?
Arsen: Sandy is such a great person, she helps me a great deal, and I am very grateful to her.
There's only one blues band in my town, and it is my band, so you see, there's not much competition going on here :). But since I will move to Moscow soon, there will be no more blues bands in Nalchik, at least for some time for sure L
CHC: How many Blues societies are there in Russia?
Arsen: To my knowledge there's only one, we represented that society in Memphis in February 2005. The list of main Russian blues bands with the links to their sites, gigs schedule, etc. can be found on the main site about blues in Russia: www.blues.ru . Unfortunately it is in Russian only, but some bands sites have parts in English.
CHC: When you did compete in Memphis, did you perform alone or were you accompanied by your band?
Arsen: I was accompanied by my band
CHC: Please introduce us to the members of the band.
Arsen: My old friends who I play with for more than 15 years are Aslan Zhantuev on bass and Bek Mamyshev on drums. They are great players and together they make a very tight and springy rhythm section; I really enjoy playing with them.
CHC: What were your impressions of the United States during this visit?
Arsen: It took us 16 hours on the plane to get to Memphis from Moscow, so we were a bit tired when we got there. Next day we went to check out the town of rock'n'roll and Blues, we walked a lot, visited every little place on Beale street, went to Sun Studio, talked to people in the streets, met musicians, enjoyed great music and great food, for sure we had fun and it was just great.
CHC: Did you have any problems getting clearance to leave Russia or enter this country?
Arsen: Times when it was difficult to leave Russia are gone long ago. There was no problem for us to enter the US either.
CHC: Do you tour Europe?
Arsen: This year I toured in Europe with the band of Wolf Mail, American blues-rock guitar player, now based in Australia. Wolf is an experienced guitar master and a very nice guy. After touring Europe I had 5 gigs in Moscow with Wolf and a Moscow rhythm section. That was a wonderful experience. We had a great response both in Europe and in Russia.
CHC: What big plans have you and the Band for the coming new year?
Arsen: I recorded one of our live shows last summer, so I hope to release this live record in the coming year. I also plan to tour Europe and Russia with Wolf Mail band again, since it worked out so great for both of us this year. Apart from that I hope to be able to play again in the US someday; and generally speaking to play as often as I can, write and record new songs, and enjoy it.
I also have to say that my son Aslan, who will be 6 on January 31, is a fantastic drummer, so I have big plans for playing with him in future. J
Many thanks for this interview.
Arsen Shomakhov
Nalchik, 19 December 2006.
For more Information:
www.arsenic.blues.ru
For more on Russian Blues (if you read Russian)
www.blues.ru
For more information on Arsen's CD Dangerous
http://www.bluesleaf.com … makhov.htm
By the early, or mid-sixties, when Paul Butterfield was bridging the racial divide musically in Chicago, the Brits geared up for and launched the first of what was termed the "British Invasion," which, with the arrival of groups such as the Kinks, the Animals, the Yardbirds, the Rolling Stones, and other similar British bands., introduced many white kids for the very first time to a music which had existed in their back yards since the 1800s The United States was not the only nation so affected by this British Invasion. These bands traveled Europe and the world as well.
Although Soviet Russia had tried hard to repress corrupting Western influence,. when Gorbachev's perestroika brought barriers to certain foreign music media down, a powerful Russian youth protest movement appeared, centered around Rock N' Roll. This would be replaced by a growing number of Russian youth who, not content with the British sound, investigated its earliest origins in Delta Blues.
Since the fall of communism in the early 1990s, Russians have had to deal with enormous displacement and social upheaval, much as former Black slaves, it is thought, experienced after post-emancipation in the southern United States a hundred years earlier. The Blues offered a spirit of optimism that helped endure and overcome the obstacles by which Russians were confronted . Even though they may not have understood the English words being sung, the music offered a spirit of optimism that fed the Russian soul. It was also a voice of shifting political views, and racial tolerance and reverence. It also offered an alternative to the crass commercialization of pop music that permeated Russian airwaves, something from. which Russian musical converts vowed to protect the Blues.
It was at approximately this time that Russian Blues guitarist Arsen Shomakhov first picked up his "axe" and began to play.professionally
By August of 1998. when the Russian ruble collapsed and lost two thirds of its value in three weeks, Russia's "Blues boom" collapsed as well. Many of Moscow's Blues clubs were forced to close, which undermined its fan base as its residents had far fewer venues at which they could view live performances.. But two of Russia's biggest radio stations continue to play the Blues and Russian Blues fans work to keep the "Blues alive. "
The days of having troubles leaving Russia or crossing international borders are long gone.. Within the past year Arsen has become an international artist.
We were introduced to Arsen through his friend Sandy here stateside through whom we arranged this interview.. This interview we hope will serve as an introduction. Arsen has already consented to giving us another sometime in the future. We are certain we are going to be hearing a lot more of him..
CHC: Where are you from in Russia?
Arsen: The name of my hometown is Nalchik, it is located in Russia's North Caucasus and it is the capital of Kabardino-Balkaria Republic.
CHC: Is this a heavily populated area? (If not) How far are you from the nearest large city?
Arsen: There's over 250 thousand people in Nalchik, the nearest large city is Rostov, with the population of about 1 million people.
CHC: Can you describe life where you live?
Arsen: Usual life of an average provincial town. Beautiful people and nature, a bit dull culture wise, but I guess that is typical of any small town
CHC: How has life changed since the collapse of the Soviet Union for the average Russian citizen?
Arsen: That's a topic for a serious study; I wouldn't be able to answer this question in a few lines. I guess the book entitled "Russia Gets the Blues" written by Michael Urban, American sociologist and Blues lover, has all the answers*. By the way, Michael Urban wrote liner notes to my first American release "Dangerous".
CHC: Has Russia really worked to repress western influences? In what ways?
Arsen: I remember being a kid I had a problem to listen to American and British musical radio programs, because they were jammed. Also you wouldn't be able to buy any rock or Blues records in the shops.
CHC: How did you first hear the Blues?
Arsen: The first "Blues" I heard was "Basin Street Blues" performed by Lois Armstrong, and I think I was 4 or 5 at the time.
CHC: Who were your earliest Blues/Jazz influences?
Arsen: My elder brother had a great collection of tapes, so already in my early childhood I had a good idea about rock bands like Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Beatles, etc. I discovered blues later, when I was 10 or 12. The first truly blues record I heard was a compilation of early American blues masters songs, released in Russia. That's how I got to know Muddy Waters and Howling Wolf. At the same time I listened a lot to Jimi Hendrix, John McLaughlin, Robert Fripp and other great guitarists, without paying much attention to styles; I just loved to listen to good music. Later I heard Stevie Ray Vaughan and instantly become addicted to his playing. Among my current Blues influences, I would name T-bone Walker, Freddy King, Jimmy Vaughan, Charlie Baty, Ronnie Earl, Alex Shultz, Junior Watson, Rick Holmstrom, Vidar Busk, and many others.
CHC What is nightlife like in the bigger cities in Russia?
Arsen: Nightlife in Moscow is not different from any European city, you have all sorts of night clubs and discos in Moscow, there's several good clubs for Blues as well
CHC: Does the Blues have a big following, many people who enjoy it in Russia?
Arsen: It would be wrong to say that Blues has more fans than pop or rock in Russia, but the number of blues fans is growing, due to better access to blues records, internet, and more frequent live concerts of American and European blues artists.
CHC: You sing and write English very well. Where did you learn English?
Arsen: Thanks! I studied English at the University of Nalchik. We have great English teachers here.
CHC: When did you start playing guitar?
Arsen: I started playing at around 14 or so. My brother had an acoustic guitar, so I fooled around with it quite often. But I only got my first electric guitar at the age of 16. That was a cheap copy of Fender, but I liked it so much. Unfortunately it was stolen.
CHC: What kind of guitar/equipment do you play? The other guys in your band? Where is it manufactured?
Arsen: My main guitar is a Fender Strat Deluxe plus, I also sometimes use a Washburn semi hollowbody. I play through a Marshall JTM 30, and planning to buy a Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb, this amp has such a sweet clean tone. So the only Russian made gear I use is the tubes in my amp. ))
My bass player plays a custom made 5 string bass, the drummer plays Pearl drums and Zildjian Avedis cymbals.
CHC: There is a distinctive difference in sound from your CD "Troublemaker" to your CD "Dangerous". Can you tell us of each CD. Which did you play first, Jazz or the Blues?
Arsen: Up to now I recorded 3 CDs. My First CD "Heavy Steppin'" has a blues-rock, or even rock sound. Next album I recorded was "Troublemaker" that was released in 2003, you can find there some funky grooves and Texas shuffles. In my latest record I tried to cover a wider range of styles, with the main accent on my guitar, of course, but at the same time I tried to make it sound less aggressive in some tunes, kind of jazzy. . This album entitled "Dangerous" was released on Blues Leaf records, American label run by Joe Morabia.
CHC: Your friend Sandy says that the two of you met when you competed at the 2005 International Blues Challenge (IBC), in Memphis, Tennessee. To qualify did you compete with other Blues bands where you are from?
Arsen: Sandy is such a great person, she helps me a great deal, and I am very grateful to her.
There's only one blues band in my town, and it is my band, so you see, there's not much competition going on here :). But since I will move to Moscow soon, there will be no more blues bands in Nalchik, at least for some time for sure L
CHC: How many Blues societies are there in Russia?
Arsen: To my knowledge there's only one, we represented that society in Memphis in February 2005. The list of main Russian blues bands with the links to their sites, gigs schedule, etc. can be found on the main site about blues in Russia: www.blues.ru . Unfortunately it is in Russian only, but some bands sites have parts in English.
CHC: When you did compete in Memphis, did you perform alone or were you accompanied by your band?
Arsen: I was accompanied by my band
CHC: Please introduce us to the members of the band.
Arsen: My old friends who I play with for more than 15 years are Aslan Zhantuev on bass and Bek Mamyshev on drums. They are great players and together they make a very tight and springy rhythm section; I really enjoy playing with them.
CHC: What were your impressions of the United States during this visit?
Arsen: It took us 16 hours on the plane to get to Memphis from Moscow, so we were a bit tired when we got there. Next day we went to check out the town of rock'n'roll and Blues, we walked a lot, visited every little place on Beale street, went to Sun Studio, talked to people in the streets, met musicians, enjoyed great music and great food, for sure we had fun and it was just great.
CHC: Did you have any problems getting clearance to leave Russia or enter this country?
Arsen: Times when it was difficult to leave Russia are gone long ago. There was no problem for us to enter the US either.
CHC: Do you tour Europe?
Arsen: This year I toured in Europe with the band of Wolf Mail, American blues-rock guitar player, now based in Australia. Wolf is an experienced guitar master and a very nice guy. After touring Europe I had 5 gigs in Moscow with Wolf and a Moscow rhythm section. That was a wonderful experience. We had a great response both in Europe and in Russia.
CHC: What big plans have you and the Band for the coming new year?
Arsen: I recorded one of our live shows last summer, so I hope to release this live record in the coming year. I also plan to tour Europe and Russia with Wolf Mail band again, since it worked out so great for both of us this year. Apart from that I hope to be able to play again in the US someday; and generally speaking to play as often as I can, write and record new songs, and enjoy it.
I also have to say that my son Aslan, who will be 6 on January 31, is a fantastic drummer, so I have big plans for playing with him in future. J
Many thanks for this interview.
Arsen Shomakhov
Nalchik, 19 December 2006.
For more Information:
www.arsenic.blues.ru
For more on Russian Blues (if you read Russian)
www.blues.ru
For more information on Arsen's CD Dangerous
http://www.bluesleaf.com … makhov.htm
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