Alexey Bobrovsky - Exclusive OnlineDrummer.com Interview
By Frank Bender - May 26th, 2009
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Russia is a place where you can find many treasures of the soil - even diamonds of drumming! Alexey Bobrovsky is a very talented drummer whether as a drum soloist or as a team player in the highly original Alexander Kostarev Group and has a lot to say.
Please tell us about growing up in the USSR.Alexey:
Actually, I do not remember exactly any special peculiarities of soviet life. I have just some impressions about coupons on sugar, vodka, butter, etc. School time for me was a period of incredible, crazy interest in astronomy (mostly), physics and chemistry. I had a small laboratory at home, and my parents always respected my passions, even when something exploded, occasionally!
Do you think living in Russia today is a disadvantage for a musician?Alexey:
Life in Russia is complicated in many aspects. In my opinion, the main problem deals with the absence of any support from the government. I mean especially experimental music and fundamental science. I do not know of any foundation which provides financial support, grants for album recording or traveling with gigs to other cities or countries. That is why a lot of musicians and scientists (and in many cases the best ones) are going abroad.
Probably, the science situation is a little bit better because we have the so-called Russian Foundation for Basic Research, but this organization gives only a little money and has stupid expertise procedures. For example, purchasing new modern scientific equipment is a completely impossible task. Fortunately, our laboratory, due to my advisor activity, has international contacts and projects. I would like to mention that I bought the drum set after receiving Alexander von Humboldt Stipendium (after working in Germany, Marburg for one year).
Unfortunately, problems are not related only to money. Old soviet organizations of science and prolonged cultural isolation in the soviet period created big troubles for any kind of creativity. The quality of “cultural space” is below the threshold for fast growing musicians and bands. In order to earn money for normal life many good players are compelled to be involved in pop-projects or in jobs which are not even related to music. As a result, there are only few art- and progressive bands in Russia. In my opinion, the number of interesting groups and projects is many times less than in any European country.
At what age did you start drumming?Alexey:
At 18 I began to practice and at 19 was my first gig (15 years ago, March 13). Then, I played with many bands of different styles, from reggae to death-metal, but I came up with idea of solo-drumming and more serious practicing about 8 years ago.
Would you please describe your first drum set?Alexey:
In the beginning I practiced on pillows, boxes, etc. It's funny, my first “hi-hat” was house slippers wrapped in a polyethylene bag. Then a friend of mine brought me real drum set, a very small drum set for kids produced in a Soviet factory located in the small city, Engels.
Do you play other instruments?Alexey:
No.
Did you take any drum lessons?Alexey:
Yes, for three years. My most successful experience was studying with Sergey Smolyaninov, a very good teacher and drummer. Nowadays, Alexander Kostarev is my main teacher. Communication with him and playing in his band really promotes my technical and musical growth.
Who are your role models as a drummer, as a musician and as a human being?Alexey:
Evidently, Terry Bozzio is my favorite as a drummer and a person.
Music in the beginning of XXth century has a noticeable impression on me. Stravinsky, Prokofiev, Bartok, just to name few.
Furthermore, I would like to mention two Russian drummers, Vladimir Tarasov and Igor Javad Zade. Vladimir Tarasov is a famous jazz and experimental musician which was well-known in the USSR. Two years ago he released a compilation containing 12 CDs with solo drum music. Igor Javad Zade is not only an incredible drummer, he is a leader of the drumming community in Russia. Now he makes a lot for young drummers in the framework of a special weekly event called “Monday Drummer” (drum clinics, discussion, etc). I think that these drummers are undeservedly unknown outside Russia.
Some people say that you are Terry Bozzio´s Russian twin brother since your solo work is also ostinato based and your drum set looks very much like Terry´s.Alexey:
This sentence is only partially correct, but of course, similarity exists in crude approximation. I am trying to play several pieces of Bozzio’s solo works, but most time I am composing my own pieces. Moreover, my style of playing with the Kostarev Group is different in spite of using some licks and patterns invented by Bozzio.
Would you describe your current drum kit; what brands and sizes do you use?Alexey:
My main kit is a Sonor Delite Fusion, with sizes 8”-24”. It includes three bass drums, 20”, 22”, 24”; and three 8” toms. In addition, I am using seven 8” and five 6” toms without resonant heads, which are chromatically tuned. My main snare drum is a Yamaha Maple Custom Absolute (12”). In addition I am using 10” and 14” snare drums and 14” snare drums placed on the floor and operated by foot. I have a number of percussion things and a large variety of cymbals, including Sabian Radia (Terry Bozzio signature). Radia cymbals are very convenient for solo-drumming. All detailed information is available on my MySpace page.
There are not so many drummers or percussion-players which are using Radia because of the very special sound. At least, I do not know any Russian drummer with Radia. As concerns Radia Chinas - they provide the possibility to hear different "tone" from chinas of different sizes. Actually, I can play "melody" with such 8 chinas as I do with cup-chimes. Stack combination, china+crash (or splash) - the same advantage as for Radia chinas, but they have short sustain and, therefore, can be used for fast patterns.
I am also using, especially with Kostarev Group, conventional hats (four, with different sizes and types) crashes (three) and rides (two, one of them flat-top ride for smooth sound).
My full drum set consists of 20 pedals. I have invented and constructed the special cable remote pedal for the gong and a second cable remote pedal for the 24” bass drums.
Do you have any endorsement deals at the moment?Alexey:
No.
Do you compose your solo pieces or are they totally improvised?Alexey:
I have pieces with a definite structure. On another hand, I like to improvise by playing “what I feel” at the moment.
Do you plan to record a solo album or a drumming DVD?Alexey:
I still consider myself as “pupil”. I need a lot of practice composing before starting to think about any serious solo-recording.
How did you get in contact with the Kostarev Group?Alexey:
In 2005, when I was in Germany, I suddenly received an e-mail form Alexander Kostarev with the following sentence: “It’s time to talk about music. Isn’t it?” I like complicated odd-time signature music and we began rehearsing very often. After 3-4 months I played my first gig with the Kostarev Group, and the idea to use my huge drum set in the band really works!
What is your part in the Kostarev Group - simply being the timekeeper or an equitable musician?Alexey:
Let’s say it is multi-functional role. Of course, keeping time or “grooving” are important tasks for me. But, in addition, to compose drum parts and to create dynamics. Sometimes I am playing tonally tuned tom-toms, creating melody.
Do you play with any bands or projects apart from the Kostarev Group at the moment?Alexey:
No, I am completely involved in Kostarev Group and solo-drumming.
You will probably meet Terry Bozzio at the Zappanale in Bad Doberan in August because you both will play there. What does it mean to you being able to talk to Terry?Alexey:
Oh, it is my big dream. I have a huge number of questions for him! They include technique of playing, drum set, philosophy, life and many, many others.
In real life you are working as a natural scientist; do you think this job influences the way you play the drums?Alexey:
It is a very complicated question. Because I cannot imagine what I would be if I never did research work or never had an interest in science. Evidently, there is influence, it should be present.
Do you agree if somebody would say your job as a chemist stresses the rational aspect and your hobby as a musician stresses the emotional aspect of your personality?Alexey:
Up until now, nobody complains in such a way! :) Nevertheless, in gigs I am trying to express as much emotionality as I can, because for me music is the way for feelings expression rather than rational calculations.
Would you give up your job at the Moscow State University if you were commercially successful as a musician?Alexey:
I cannot even imagine such situation. I've never imagined to be a commercially successful musician because it means automatically that I should play music which I do not like. Moreover, science for me is the most important thing, and I’ve spent the most time in the laboratory by doing experiments with my polymers and liquid crystals.
Can you give us your definition of “groove”?Alexey:
I think the term “groove” means a musical motion which obeys both musicians and audience.
Do you have any musical plans for the future?Alexey:
I am planning to finish recording drums for the new Kostarev Group album and to continue composing my own solo drum pieces. With Kostarev Group, we also recently started to rehearse a special concert program with a small drum set in order to have the possibility to play in festivals more often as well as in little clubs (with small area stages). On the one hand, the task is complicated because I have to adapt my drum parts for small, five-piece drum set. Nevertheless, from another point of view, this is the way to concentrate more on the dynamics, emotions and the quality of playing. As far as concerns my solo music with the large drum set, at the end of April I will organize a small solo drumming gig devoted to my birthday.
Visit Alexey's MySpace
