The artistic and biographical backgrounds of Mikhail Popov and Arkadiy Gips have a great deal in common. Both embarked
upon their musical careersas children, attended the best music schools in the former Soviet Union, and emigrated
to the United
States in
the early 1990s. Most importanly,they share a deep love of Jewish music. "Mikhail and Arkadiy are klezmorim in the truest
sense of the word,"noted cantor Jack Chomsky of Congregation Tifereth Israel in Columbus, OH."The word klezmer is really two words: Klei zemer- vessels of music. The useof
this term dates to the Middle ages, referring to itinerant musicians fulfilling the artistic and cultural needs of the Jewish
community of Europe. They were noted for their performance of popular music of Jewish
and non-Jewish peoples, for their great instrumental skills and for their talents of improvisation."In their arrangements,
Mikhail and Arkadiy chose well-known melodies as a starting point, then subject them to different and sometimes unexpected
stylistic transformations. More than the dialogue between the piano and violin, there is a relationship built between the
song's origins and a new instrumental interpretation.
American Gypsy
Internationally recognized 12-string guitarist/composer Neil Jacobs, violinist Arkadiy Gips, and award-winning bassist,
Steven Fox (not pictured) form this exciting high-energy trio. This highly acclaimed new ensemble transforms Gypsy, Jazz,
and World Folk into intriguing new American Music. American Gypsy has thrilled and mesmerized audiences across the United States and Europe. Both Neil Jacobs
and Arkadiy Gips have a history of performing and traveling with the Gypsies of Europe. Neil resided and studied with Gypsies of Spain from 1994-1996, and Arkadiy traveled with a Gypsy group from Bulgaria in the 80's. Both Arkadiy and Neil have extensive knowledge of Balkan and Slavic
folk music and have performed with and composed for the internationally acclaimed group Zivili on numerous occasions. One
particularly memorable journey brought them to the Balkans in the early 90's. Here they performied in refugee camps for war
victims throughout the Balkan states culminating in a major concert in the war-ravaged center of Sarajevo. Steven Fox (not pictured) is a graduate of OhioStateUniversity where he earned his degree in double bass performance. His musical expertise includes everything from
Bluegrass to African music and beyond. "American Gypsy's" debut CD has been
nominated for the American Independent Music Award's, "Album of the Year"! The judges are comprised of established artists
including; Tom Waits, Yolanda Adams, Ricky Skaggs, Tina Weymouth, Meshell Ndegeocello, Arturo Sandoval, Mitchell Froom, Kelly
Willis, Wilson Pickett, Victoria Williams, Don Byron, Bobby Rush, Jim Lauderdale, and George Duke.
