Music
Press
“With their blend of tradition and modernity Children of the Revolution is proving to be one of the most original and accomplished bands in the U.S. today and represent the future of popular music.” - Putumayo Records
Monday, June 30, 2003
By BILL WHITE
SPECIAL TO THE POST-INTELLIGENCER
Could the next world-beat crazei come out of Seattle? It is entirely possible. After 5 1/2 years, Children of the Revolution may be on the verge of a national breakthrough.
With this weekend's sold-out performances at Benaroya's Recital Hall representing the video set to debut on KCTS/9 this fall, the Seattle-based ensemble has a good chance of achieving widespread popularity.
The three-hour show was centered on their new CD, "Liberation," and included flamenco sketches, Greco-Egyptian belly dance, rap and a full gospel choir.
Led by singer and multi-instrumentalist Vassili, whose good looks recall a young Chris Cornell, Children of the Revolution's 11 members span the globe, from Iraq to Brazil. More than a conglomerate of talent, they are a tight and unified band.
The charismatic Vassili shared the spotlight generously with his bandmates. Venezuelan singer Yva Las Vegass, accompanying herself on the quatro, stirred the crowd with passionate and intense versions of "Pola Margaretena" and "Mariposas."
Eric Jaeger played the part of Vassili's sidekick for most of the show, tearing off speed riffs on electric and acoustic guitars, as well as the bouzouki.
Among his highlights was a flamenco piece played in 12/4, which is like a waltz played at four times the normal speed.
Along with violinist Geoffrey Castle, Jaeger brought the first half of the evening to a blazing finish with a battle of exchanged riffs, from James Bond to the Flintstones, climaxing in a spectacular "Orange Blossom Special."
Castle's rampage through "Minor Swing" could teach Mark O'Connor's crew a little about the definition of "hot" as it relates to the music of Django Reinhardt.
Guest artists were sprinkled throughout the program. Seventy-two-year-old Omar Batiste performed a Greek folk dance with a lighted cigarette behind his ear. Debbie Covitt, along with the St. Therese Choir, earned a standing ovation with her vocal pyrotechnics on "Burnt Sugar." And lithe Sasha Grinberg came down from heaven to dance a little salsa with the lucky mortal Vassili. [Note: The artist and choir were incorrect in the original version of this review.]
Repeatedly drawn to the familiar story of a brokenhearted man smoking in a café wishing for one last glance of a woman before saying goodbye to her forever, Vassili brought a tough sensitivity to the Greek Rembetiko classic "Broken Pieces."
At the end of the concert, Vassili delivered a message of peace and a call for enlightenment. "There are two Iraqis and a Jew playing music together here tonight," he said.
- Seattle Post Intelligencer
Discography
Malaka Records:
Children of the Revolution CD - self titled 1999
Chapter One CD - 2001
Keep Holding On CD - 2001
The World on One Stage DVD - 2001
Liberation CD - 2003
It's All Greek to Me CD - 2003
Life, Love and Guantanamo Bay . . . CD - 2006
Putumayo Records:
"Greece" CD - Ragizi Apopse
"Swing Around the World" CD - Minor Swing
Photos
Bio
When you go to a Children of the Revolution show, you might as well leave your preconceptions about world music at the door" wrote Tina Potterf of the Seattle Times. Fans will usually say something like, "That was the best live show Ive ever been to; I dont know quite how to describe it." From Bozeman Montana to the caves of Granada, Spain, from Istanbul to Taiwan, COTR make life-long fans wherever they go.
They can loosely be compared to such breakaway and high-energy world music artists such as Ozomatli, Gipsy Kings, Santana, Manu Chau and the Afro Celt Sound System, but all similarities stop there. Made up of virtuoso musicians, singers and dancers from around the world, COTR blend their Flamenco, Greek, and Rock roots creating, a lush and melodic sound driven by infectious Latin and Middle-Eastern grooves.
The group is fronted by lead singer Vassili and guitarist Eric Jaeger. Sharing the spotlight is Barcelona-born flamenco dancer Encarnación and over-the-top electric violinist Geoffrey Castle. Their electrifying and sexy concerts showcase outstanding musicianship and songwriting with world-class dance performances. Both world music aficionados and those new to the genre agree - COTR puts on one of the most unifying and entertaining shows in the world!
âWith their blend of tradition and modernity Children of the Revolution is proving to be one of the most original and accomplished bands in the U.S. today and represent the future of popular music.â
-Jacob Edgar, VP of A&R, Putumayo World Music
Guest artists both live and recorded have included legendary rock singer, Ann Wilson of Heart, Afro Celt drummer Johnnie Kalsi, Maktub soul/rock singer Reggie Watts, former Queensrÿche guitarist Chris DeGarmo, Venezuelan punk/folk singer Yva LasVegass, and Cirque de Soliel vocalist, Beth Quist.
In less than two years, COTR went from playing small clubs to filling some of the Northwests most prestigious theaters such as Meany Hall, Benaroya Hall and the 3,000-seat Paramount Theater.
COTR is a consistent audience favorite of major festivals in the region such as Folklife, Vancouver Folk Festival, Bumbershoot and Montanas Sweetpea Festival - 3-6,000 people will be dancing and singing at these shows. Eleftheria (the Greek word for freedom) is their anthem that ends the show and ALWAYS gets the crowd jumping in unison!
COTR have the achievements, experience and systems in place to create a totally new movement in popular music. They have toured extensively through the Northwest and Canada and have been invited to perform at very special historical events such as; the first Western band invited to play for the Buddhas Birthday in Taiwan for over 30,000 people, the Government Leaders conference (organized by Bill Gates and Paul G. Allen) in Seattle at Experience Music Project, and KROCKs 2005 Tsunami Relief benefit concert headlined by surviving members of Alice in Chains and Heart. COTRs concert DVD has aired on numerous PBS stations across the country and select tracks from their album, Liberation appear on Putumayo Records compilations.
After spending five months in Europe where they performed and studied with Flamenco masters in Spain, Rye singers in Morocco and Turkish musicians in Istanbul, COTR returned to record their latest CD, Life, Love and Guantanamo Bay. The album is an artistic breakthrough for Children of the Revolution and promises to bring them into the international spotlight.
We play the music that we love, the music of our homelands. We play with the hope that all revolutions could be musical ones. - Children of the Revolution
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