Bibs Ekkel: Russian Gypsy Music Balalaika Albums

Born in 1946 in England of mixed Polish-English background, Bibs Ekkel is both musician and linguist. His career as one of very few outstanding professional balalaika players outside Russia has brought him much recognition worldwide, including in the balalaika's Motherland, where he has performed on radio and TV as well as at Moscow's prestigious "Hall of Columns" and "Tchaikovsky Hall".

In addition to concerts, cabarets, recordings, movie soundtracks, radio and TV he has had speaking and playing roles in many films and BBC-TV productions, where he has also worked as advisor on Romany or Russian music themes for movies such as: "The Man Who Knew Too Little", "The Saint", "Yasha the Liar".

He has lectured on Balalaika, Russian Gypsy music and language at a variety of US Universities, co-authored a BBC radio educational series and written and presented programs on another subject, the Russian singer Peter Lescenco, for BBC World Service.

Other instruments Bibs Ekkel plays include: domra, guitar, garmoshka, piano, and gusli.

Apart from solo balalaika albums and various recordings he has recorded several albums with his group "Tziganka".

This highly successful emigre music and dance ensemble has been touring internationally, performing concerts and cabaret, since Bibs founded it in 1975. Some of the group's records have been issued on such labels as "Russkiy disk", Moscow, CBS Israel and "Decca", London.

01. My Girl Marusya
02. Green Eyes
03. Konfetki-Baranochki
04. Steppes
05. Couchman, Drive me to the Yar
06. Black Eyes
07. Farewell, My Gypsy Camp
08. Where Is My Loved One
09. Papirosen
10. End Of Road
11. At Our Parting
12. Yashka-Tsygan
13. Poliushko-Pole
14. Spoite, Tsyganie

To order "Across The Russian Steppes" Album (1978) of Bibs Ekkel with ensemble Tziganka please click PayPal image below. Price is $25 US dollars including US first class or airmail shipping anywhere in the world. Compact disk is usually shipped withing 48 hours of your payment. This compact disk is offered only from Barynya merchandise website with verbal permission of Bibs Ekkel.