SEEKING
Band to Join.ABOUT
I have started to study music at the age of 10 while living in St Petersburg, Russia, and as many children from my background I was formally educated and graduated from musical school for kids at the age of 15. Being absolutely abscessed with Russian Gypsy music naturally instrument of choice for me was classical guitar.
While studying guitar I got exposed to blues and jazz. The second instrument I picked up was a trombone. and as a result, for many years to come I played in St Petersburg Children Jazz Orchestra, while continue to study Blues Guitar at one of the newly created academies. At the age of 20 I have heard for the first time amplified harmonica on one of the Muddy Waters recording and that was it, my life would never be the same. I had no idea how they produce that sound, what gear they use, which techniques etc. Nobody could play harmonica in Russia at the time, but it didn’t stop me however. After relocating to UK to do my PhD I put harmonica on hold for a while. That has changed when I bought an album of fantastic Lee Sankey. Lee had a completely unique style and approach to the instrument which made me to pick up harmonica again. I knew for sure this time that I must learn it properly, this is what I want to do. For several years after I was taking lessons from another great harmonica player, Dave Toussaint. Dave taught me everything I know about the instrument and influenced greatly my understanding and appreciation of music. While being in my thirties I enrolled several programs at Goldsmiths College, where I had an opportunity to learn from great masters such as incredible Jazz and Blues pianist Tim Richards.
I am absolutely convinced that music is a journey and not a destination and in spite of being established and award-winning harmonica player myself I continue to learn from other musicians on daily basis. Some of the people who I had a pleasure to study with include Grammy winning harmonica players Howard Levy and Jason Ricci, up and coming harmonica wizard Konstantin Reinfeld, rock guitar guru Yuri Shilnikov (Jase Band), member of long standing dynasty of Russian Gypsy guitarists Sasha Kolpakov.
Some of my awards include:
2017 - 1st place at Baltic Nordic Harmonica Festival (Estonia)
2015 - 1st place at Baltic Nordic Harmonica Festival (Estonia)
2013 - 5th place at World Harmonica Championship (Germany)
2013 - Harmonica Player of the Year, Blues and Rock category (United Kingdom)
2009 - Harmonica Player of the Year, Jazz category (United Kingdom)
In addition to that I was placed in top 3 players across multiple categories in United Kingdom between 2008 and 2017
- Screen name:
- leo_harp
- Member since:
- Jan 23 2023
- Active over 1 month ago
- Level of commitment:
- Committed
- Years playing music:
- 25
- Gigs played:
- Over 100
- Most available:
- Nights
Influences
Jason Ricci, James Cotton, Paul Butterfield, John Popper, SRV, Zakk Wylde, Dimeback Darrel, David Gilmore, Miles Davies, Ben Webster
Instrument experience:
- Harmonica:
- Expert
- Rhythm Guitar:
- Advanced
- Lead Guitar:
- Moderate
