Modest Midget

The Netherlands' own Modest Midget is back with their first full length album, The Great Prophesy Of A Small Man, the follow-up to their 2008 EP, Partial Exposure. Classic and progressive rock guitar are at the roots of The Great Prophecy Of A Small Man, as guitarist/singer/songwriter Lionel Ziblat infuses the album with his unique style and sound.

Modest Midget continues the impressive display of progressive rock virtuosity that they displayed on their debut EP, Partial Exposure. Lionel Ziblat certainly knows how to dial it up on guitar, infusing new and unusual sounds into classic forms that should engender more interest in both progressive rock and the other roots he draws from. The Great Prophesy Of A Small Man is likely to set Modest Midget up for a few more nominations and perhaps even an award or two. It's that good. - Wildy Haskell, Wildy's World

“There is hope for progressive pop with this EP (a full CD to be coming soon) from the Netherlands. The pretty melodies are surrounded by an intelligent design that is at times ethnic and then can suddenly sound almost classical, with classic prog guitar soloing and wonderful instrumental passages. I can't wait to hear the whole CD." - Bruce Greenberg, US, 70's English Progressive Rock

“Modest Midget (a clear reference to Gentle Giant) is a fine and delicate band that mixes inteligently influences major Beatle influences with progressive rock and jewish music with a lot of delicacy. A short EP of a fifteen minutes, simply charming, infested with good taste, that makes you wish for a prompt edition of the full finished album of this good musical project, created by the Argentinean / Israeli composer (at the present - living in the Netherlands) Lionel Ziblat.”
(Gustavo Bolasini, Argentina: El Retorno del Gigante – The Return of the Giant radio program 2009)
- El Retorno del Gigante / Return of the Giant

“Modest Midget (a clear reference to Gentle Giant) is a fine and delicate band that mixes inteligently influences major Beatle influences with progressive rock and jewish music with a lot of delicacy. A short EP of a fifteen minutes, simply charming, infested with good taste, that makes you wish for a prompt edition of the full finished album of this good musical project, created by the Argentinean / Israeli composer (at the present - living in the Netherlands) Lionel Ziblat.”
(Gustavo Bolasini, Argentina: El Retorno del Gigante – The Return of the Giant radio program 2009)
- El Retorno del Gigante / Return of the Giant

“Modest Midget, Lonny Ziblat’s project, takes us by the hand along diverse landsacpes, atmospheres and musical styles. Modest Midget presents us with a mixture of The Beatles with Frank Zappa, tripping through film and classical music. These styles flow naturaly within each-other. Lonny Ziblat is a composer, arranger, he sings, plays guitar, piano and percussion. A multi-talent." - A. Hagemans, the Dutch Television network editorial NCRV

“Modest Midget, Lonny Ziblat’s project, takes us by the hand along diverse landsacpes, atmospheres and musical styles. Modest Midget presents us with a mixture of The Beatles with Frank Zappa, tripping through film and classical music. These styles flow naturaly within each-other. Lonny Ziblat is a composer, arranger, he sings, plays guitar, piano and percussion. A multi-talent." - A. Hagemans, the Dutch Television network editorial NCRV

“Stubborn, intangible, surprising. Sounds accessible, but musicaly / technically above averege.”
- Announcement of the band as one of the Top 10 acts of 2008 in the Netherlands. - The editorial of the Dutch site ‘OngekendTalent’ Dec 2008

“Stubborn, intangible, surprising. Sounds accessible, but musicaly / technically above averege.”
- Announcement of the band as one of the Top 10 acts of 2008 in the Netherlands. - The editorial of the Dutch site ‘OngekendTalent’ Dec 2008

“This is fantastic! I feel like I'm at a Bar Mitvah for a serial killer clown or something.
Amazing atmosphere, no right angles, no straight lines, like Zappa's best stuff.
Amazing musicianship as well - this guy is a real composer, not a mere songwriter. And a real instrumentalist too - the guitar solo is incredible.”

(Marco, from the band BAGNUS, Italy, about ‘Evolution’) - GARAGEBAND

“This is fantastic! I feel like I'm at a Bar Mitvah for a serial killer clown or something.
Amazing atmosphere, no right angles, no straight lines, like Zappa's best stuff.
Amazing musicianship as well - this guy is a real composer, not a mere songwriter. And a real instrumentalist too - the guitar solo is incredible.”

(Marco, from the band BAGNUS, Italy, about ‘Evolution’) - GARAGEBAND

Modest Midget, to judge from the four songs presented here, has the potential to be a musical dynamo. Casual fans will enjoy the contrast of mellow lush arrangements and high energy. Musicians will love the choices Ziblat makes in his writing, and his ability to brings styles and sounds together you might not have imagined. Partial Exposure is aptly named, but its more than enough to intrigue a whole lot of listeners and leave them asking for more. Well done. - Wildy's World

Modest Midget, to judge from the four songs presented here, has the potential to be a musical dynamo. Casual fans will enjoy the contrast of mellow lush arrangements and high energy. Musicians will love the choices Ziblat makes in his writing, and his ability to brings styles and sounds together you might not have imagined. Partial Exposure is aptly named, but its more than enough to intrigue a whole lot of listeners and leave them asking for more. Well done. - Wildy's World

“The EP produced by this group is filled with taste, cool melodies, and 15 minutes of unpretentious performance. But there will be more! I look forward to a compact edition of the full album, "The Great Prophecy Of A Small Man," and to hear more surprises from the band, led by Lionel Ziblat...” - Artur Chaclowski, Radio Alfa – Krakow, Poland 2010

“The EP produced by this group is filled with taste, cool melodies, and 15 minutes of unpretentious performance. But there will be more! I look forward to a compact edition of the full album, "The Great Prophecy Of A Small Man," and to hear more surprises from the band, led by Lionel Ziblat...” - Artur Chaclowski, Radio Alfa – Krakow, Poland 2010

“ Modest Midget is based in the Netherlands and consists of Lionel Ziblat (vocals, guitars), Richard Zoer (vocals, bass), Artis Orubs (drums) and Tristan Hupe (keyboards). As a band they’ve only recently released their first recording, a 4 track EP entitled Partial Exposure . The four tracks on it are all about 3 to 4-minutes but like anything it’s what the band does with those precious minutes that count. The music is up-beat pop with quite a few Beatle influences but it’s also quite complex in terms of other influences and arrangement as well. Partial Exposure is their debut EP and is just a small taste of what the band can do; I for one am anxiously waiting to hear what these guys come up with for their first full length CD. Stay tuned, it should be good. ” - Jerry Lucky, Author of The Progressive Rock Handbook . USA 2010

“ Modest Midget is based in the Netherlands and consists of Lionel Ziblat (vocals, guitars), Richard Zoer (vocals, bass), Artis Orubs (drums) and Tristan Hupe (keyboards). As a band they’ve only recently released their first recording, a 4 track EP entitled Partial Exposure . The four tracks on it are all about 3 to 4-minutes but like anything it’s what the band does with those precious minutes that count. The music is up-beat pop with quite a few Beatle influences but it’s also quite complex in terms of other influences and arrangement as well. Partial Exposure is their debut EP and is just a small taste of what the band can do; I for one am anxiously waiting to hear what these guys come up with for their first full length CD. Stay tuned, it should be good. ” - Jerry Lucky, Author of The Progressive Rock Handbook . USA 2010

30 January 2010 an evening with snow, heat and gladheid was.

A concert has taken place in our place – Café de Muzikant – of the Amsterdam band Modest Midget, an evening we will not be easily forgotten.
Already during soundcheck it was obvious that this was no regular band. There was much regard for detail and little adjustments were pleasantly asked in order to find the precise sound that they were looking for.

From the moment that the first note was played a colourfull swinging mood was set up, sparkeling with different musical images and different rhythms. The style was impossible to define. Within the whole there were many unexpected inversions, sometimes several at a time, blended with a web of splendid melodies which arose from it.
Lead singer Lionel (which also wrote all the songs) offered us intellectual lead guitar parts which provided a distinctive sound. A complex structure and yet within a danceable frame. His band collegues knew just how to bring his compositions to a perfectly tight whole. A sudden rough rock sound burst suddenly swifts into a folklore-like passage, then a ballad with a traditonally sensitive Beatle element. A musical journey within the rock world taking a bite from Argentinian, Jewish and Cabaret music styles.
It was a blow of joy.

The finale was an emotional and grandious ode to anything that pure music ever had. It was January 30th 2010. It was a pleasure to our ears, in spite of the heavy snow outside, the heat and and the smooth roads.

We are happy to have had the chance to meet these kind, gifted and civilized guys in our café.
- Café de Muzikant – Neerkant, Noord Brabant (The Netherlands)

30 January 2010 an evening with snow, heat and gladheid was.

A concert has taken place in our place – Café de Muzikant – of the Amsterdam band Modest Midget, an evening we will not be easily forgotten.
Already during soundcheck it was obvious that this was no regular band. There was much regard for detail and little adjustments were pleasantly asked in order to find the precise sound that they were looking for.

From the moment that the first note was played a colourfull swinging mood was set up, sparkeling with different musical images and different rhythms. The style was impossible to define. Within the whole there were many unexpected inversions, sometimes several at a time, blended with a web of splendid melodies which arose from it.
Lead singer Lionel (which also wrote all the songs) offered us intellectual lead guitar parts which provided a distinctive sound. A complex structure and yet within a danceable frame. His band collegues knew just how to bring his compositions to a perfectly tight whole. A sudden rough rock sound burst suddenly swifts into a folklore-like passage, then a ballad with a traditonally sensitive Beatle element. A musical journey within the rock world taking a bite from Argentinian, Jewish and Cabaret music styles.
It was a blow of joy.

The finale was an emotional and grandious ode to anything that pure music ever had. It was January 30th 2010. It was a pleasure to our ears, in spite of the heavy snow outside, the heat and and the smooth roads.

We are happy to have had the chance to meet these kind, gifted and civilized guys in our café.
- Café de Muzikant – Neerkant, Noord Brabant (The Netherlands)