Vlad (musician)

Last updated
Vlad De Briansky
Влад Дебрянський
Vlad at Universum Guitars.jpg
Background information
Birth nameVolodymyr Mykhailovych Debrianskyi
Also known asVlad, Jack Spade
Born (1972-01-03) January 3, 1972 (age 52)
Kalush, Ukrainian SSR
Genres Jazz, blues, rock, classical
Occupations
  • Guitarist
  • producer
  • composer
  • lyricist
  • actor
  • educator
  • scientist
Instruments
  • Guitars
  • bass
  • piano
  • drums
  • keyboards
  • vocals
Years active1991–present
Labels Orpheus, EMI, Warner, Unis Records
Website www.debriansky.com

Vlad De Briansky (born Volodymyr Mykhailovych Debrianskyi, [lower-alpha 1] January 3, 1972; [1] known professionally as Vlad) is an American guitarist, composer, and educator. He is also an actor, record producer and a television producer. He plays blues, jazz, rock, and classical music

Contents

Music biography

Vlad is known for his virtuosity on a guitar. He had developed a unique technique playing guitar with his fingernails rather than a pick or attachable flat picks. He is also known for using his Fender Telecaster guitar combined with an overdone reverb effect.

Critics compared him to Wes Montgomery, Ry Cooder, Eric Johnson and Eric Clapton.

In his youth Vlad was a member of popular Ukrainian bands Forte, Tea Fan Club (Клуб Шанувальників Чаю) and Loony Pelen gaining popularity in Ukraine and Eastern Europe.

Born in Ukraine, but moved to the United States to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1996 by the invitation of the college. While at Berklee Vlad studied guitar with Jon Finn and Norman Zocher. Soon after Vlad moved to New York City where he studied with Mike Stern and John Abercrombie.

During his New York period Vlad gets a job as an assistant producer at Hush Productions, where his guitar playing caught attention of one of the company's executives Beau Huggins who immediately offered Vlad a recording contract.

During that time Vlad also gets a management proposal from a seasoned music manager Ken Greengrass. During his New York period Vlad gets offers from Blue Note Records and Sony Classical but eventually signing with Orpheus Music.

Collaboration with Orpheus lasted 10 years. During this period Vlad makes California his home and in 2004 he releases his debut album 'Vladosphere" [2] on Orpheus Music label. The album became a commercial and critical success with its single "Little Star" climbing to #4 place on Adult Contemporary radio chart bypassing Phil Collins and John Mayer making him the only instrumental artist in AC top 40 radio chart in the US.

His second solo album Sun In Capricorn [3] was released in 2007 and aired mostly on classical music radio stations around the US receiving a praise from critics earning a Grammy nomination.

A move to Los Angeles brings Vlad a new collaboration with an esteemed songwriter Holly Knight with whom he cowrote many songs and produced several artists. He also introduced Antonia Bennett to Holly which resulted in two albums of Antonia produced by Holly Knight. Vlad had also worked in a role of a producer, songwriter or a guitarist with such notable artists as: Donna Summer, Lauryn Hill, Katy Perry, Tony Levin and Pat Mastelloto (King Crimson), Orianthi, Holly Knight, Skyler Jett, Billy Sheehan, Joey DeFrancesco, Rahni Song, Murali Coryell, Arno Lucas, Ray Brown Jr., Ruslana and many others.

In 2010 Vlad meets and collaborates with a Hollywood actor Patrick Bergin whom he invites to his project "Jacks Last Dollar". [4] In 2014 Vlad releases "Jacks Last Dollar" and its "Part I" debuted as #14 on iTunes blues charts in the US. Subsequently, a second album "II" was released gaining praises from critics and gets a moderate success.

In August 2016 Vlad releases a digital download-only album simply called "Blues". "Blues" reaches the top 10 downloads on iTunes Blues charts in Japan, United States and in Russia, reaching #1 in the Russia in September 2016 and #1 in US in May 2017.

A single "For You" was released on May 15 2018th. A new single "Dead Without You" is scheduled to be released on June 26 of 2018th.

His latest album "Dreamland" under his full name as an artist Vlad De Briansky was released on February 14, 2020, and it reached #1 on iTunes blues charts in Russia.

Vlad owns a Ukrainian record (official) and a World record on performing a guitar solo along with 100 guitarists on a song "Loner" by Gary Moore held on August 24, 2019, in Kalush, Ukraine.

Film and TV

In the fall of 2009 History Channel aired a series "Nostradamus Effect: Da Vinci's Armageddon" - where Vlad plays Leonardo da Vinci.

In 2013 he co-produced a popular TV music talent show "Boyuk Sehne" (Böyük Səhnə) aired in Baku, Azerbaijan, where Vlad as Jack Spade was also one of the judges.

Electric cars

Vlad is a spokesperson for the electric automobile company ZAP Automobiles.

Music education involvement

As an ambassador of the Berklee College of Music, Vlad founded the «American Music Academy» to bring legendary Berklee program to Eastern Europe. The school offers contemporary music education and music production. Among professors and advisors of the academy are Tom Rothrock, Reginald Love, Adam Joseph, Frank Parker, Rahni Song, and Gerry Brown.

Vlad holds a position in Artistic Board at Youth Philharmonic Orchestra (YPHIL) in New York City at Carnegie Hall.

Discography

Notes

  1. Ukrainian: Володимир Михайлович Дебрянський, romanized: Volodymyr Mykhailovych Debrianskyi

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fun Lovin' Criminals</span> American rap rock band

Fun Lovin' Criminals are an American rap rock band from New York City. They are best known for their hit "Scooby Snacks", which features samples from films by Quentin Tarantino, and the song "Love Unlimited", which recalls Barry White's backing vocal group. Their songs often focus on life in New York City, as well as urban life in general. Their lyrics can be gritty or existentialist in nature, touching on topics such as organized crime and urban violence, but they are just as often humorous or satirical. The band gained a large following internationally, notably in Northwest Europe, around the release of their first two albums in the late 1990s.

Instrumental rock is rock music that emphasizes instrumental performance and features very little or no singing. Examples of instrumental music in rock can be found in practically every subgenre of the style. Instrumental rock was most popular from the mid-1950s to mid-1960s, with artists such as Bill Doggett Combo, The Fireballs, The Shadows, The Ventures, Johnny and the Hurricanes and The Spotnicks. Surf music had many instrumental songs. Many instrumental hits had roots from the R&B genre. The Allman Brothers Band feature several instrumentals. Jeff Beck also recorded two instrumental albums in the 1970s. Progressive rock and art rock performers of the late 1960s and early 1970s did many virtuosic instrumental performances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manfred Mann</span> English rock band

Manfred Mann were an English rock band, formed in London and active between 1962 and 1969. They were named after their keyboardist Manfred Mann, who later led the successful 1970s group Manfred Mann's Earth Band. The group had two different lead vocalists, Paul Jones from 1962 to 1966 and Mike d'Abo from 1966 to 1969. Other members of various group line-ups were Mike Hugg, Mike Vickers, Dave Richmond, Tom McGuinness, Jack Bruce and Klaus Voormann.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Scofield</span> American jazz guitarist and composer (born 1951)

John Scofield is an American guitarist and composer. His music over a long career has blended jazz, jazz fusion, funk, blues, soul and rock. He first came to mainstream attention as part of the band of Miles Davis; he has toured and recorded with many prominent jazz artists including saxophonists Eddie Harris, Dave Liebman, Joe Henderson, and Joe Lovano; keyboardists George Duke, Joey DeFrancesco, Herbie Hancock, Larry Goldings, and Robert Glasper; fellow guitarists Pat Metheny, John Abercrombie, Pat Martino, and Bill Frisell; bassists Marc Johnson and Jaco Pastorius; and drummers Billy Cobham and Dennis Chambers. Outside the world of jazz, he has collaborated with Phil Lesh, Mavis Staples, John Mayer, Medeski Martin & Wood, and Gov't Mule.

<i>Out in L.A.</i> 1994 compilation album by Red Hot Chili Peppers

Out in L.A. is a compilation of rare tracks by the Red Hot Chili Peppers released November 1, 1994, on EMI. Interpreted by music critics as an attempt by EMI to capitalize on the group's newfound success with Warner Bros., it collects remixes, demo recordings, live covers and outtakes. On release, Out in L.A. received negative reviews from music critics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Healey</span> Canadian singer, guitarist and songwriter (1966–2008)

Norman Jeffrey Healey was a Canadian blues, rock and jazz guitarist, singer and songwriter who attained popularity in the 1980s and 1990s. He reached No. 5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart with "Angel Eyes" and reached the Top 10 in Canada with the songs "I Think I Love You Too Much" and "How Long Can a Man Be Strong".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnny "Guitar" Watson</span> American musician (1935–1996)

John Watson Jr., often known professionally as Johnny "Guitar" Watson, was an American musician. A flamboyant showman and electric guitarist in the style of T-Bone Walker, his recording career spanned 40 years, and encompassed rhythm and blues, funk and soul music.

<i>Shadows and Light</i> (Joni Mitchell album) 1980 live album by Joni Mitchell

Shadows and Light is the second live album by Canadian musician Joni Mitchell. It was released in September 1980 through Asylum Records, her last release for the label. It was recorded in September 1979 at the Santa Barbara Bowl in Santa Barbara, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Abercrombie (guitarist)</span> American jazz guitarist (1944–2017)

John Laird Abercrombie was an American jazz guitarist. His work explored jazz fusion, free jazz, and avant-garde jazz. Abercrombie studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. He was known for his understated style and his work with organ trios.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bruce Katz</span> American musician

Bruce Katz is an American musician, playing piano, organ and bass guitar. From 1996 to 2010, he was on the faculty at the Berklee College of Music in Boston as an associate professor. He founded his own musical group, the Bruce Katz Band in 1991 and has recorded and toured with that band to the present. He has also recorded and toured with many other well-known artists in the Blues, Jazz and Rock music world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Tropea</span> American guitarist

John Tropea is an American jazz guitarist and composer.

<i>In the Hollies Style</i> 1964 studio album by the Hollies

In the Hollies Style is the second album by the British rock band the Hollies and was released in November 1964 on Parlophone Records. It missed the official Record Retailer album chart in the United Kingdom, which at the time only had a total of 20 available spots. The album charted in the top 10 at No. 6 on New Musical Express magazine's competitive chart. In Canada, it was released on Capitol in October 1965, with an altered track listing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bo Diddley (Bo Diddley song)</span> 1955 song by Bo Diddley

"Bo Diddley" is a song by American rock and roll pioneer Bo Diddley. It introduced the rhythm that became known as the Bo Diddley beat and topped the Billboard R&B chart for two weeks in 1955. The song is included on many of Diddley's compilation albums including Bo Diddley (1958) and His Best (1997). Buddy Holly recorded a version that posthumously became his 2nd highest-charting single in the UK after "It Doesn't Matter Anymore".

Matthew James Ashman was an English guitarist with Adam and the Ants and Bow Wow Wow. He died in 1995 after lapsing into a coma due to diabetes, aged 35.

Oleh Suk is a Ukrainian rock musician, specializing in the bass guitar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wow (Ruslana song)</span> 2011 single by Ruslana

"WOW" is the title of Ruslana's single released on 17 April 2011 in Ukraine. The track was produced in Los Angeles by producer Jack Spade.

<i>My Boo</i> (album) 2012 studio album by Ruslana

My Boo (Together!) is the title of the third English-language studio album of the Ukrainian singer Ruslana. The Ukrainian version was released on 25 April 2012 under the title Ey-fory-ya (Eu-phori-a). and then it has been re-released in Ukraine in July 2013 under the title Miy brat (Razom!).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruslana</span> Ukrainian singer (born 1973)

Ruslana Stepanivna Lyzhychko, known mononymously as Ruslana, is a Ukrainian singer, songwriter, dancer, producer, actress, activist, and former politician. She is a World Music Award and Eurovision Song Contest winning recording artist, holding the title of People's Artist of Ukraine. She is also a former MP serving as deputy in the Ukrainian parliament for the Our Ukraine Party. Ruslana was the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in Ukraine in 2004–2005. She is recognized as the most successful Ukrainian female solo artist internationally and was included in the top 10 most influential women of 2013 by the Forbes magazine. The U.S. Secretary of State honored her with the International Women of Courage Award in March, 2014. She has been named an honorary citizen of her hometown Lviv and was nominated to receive the title Hero of Ukraine.

Erana Clark is an Australian singer and vocal coach originally from Auckland, New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Certain Girl</span> 1961 single by Ernie K-Doe

"A Certain Girl" is a rhythm and blues song written by Allen Toussaint, with the credit listed under his pen name Naomi Neville. New Orleans R&B singer Ernie K-Doe recorded it in 1961. Minit Records released the song as the B-side of "I Cried My Last Tear".

References

  1. Руслана – Биография Archived May 5, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  2. "Album Notes: 163". Berklee Today. Berklee College of Music. Retrieved 2008-03-24. (see 1997)
  3. "Album Notes: 193". Berklee Today. Berklee College of Music. Retrieved 2008-03-24. (see 1997)
  4. "Album Notes: 163". RTE. RTE.ie. 10 January 2018. Retrieved 2018-01-20. (see 2018)