I Didn’t Know That!
Sometimes, when you dig deep into a subject, you find gems of information that make a difference in how you look at life, or in this case, music.
I started to look at the Russian music scene by reading a book about the Moscow jazz underground. I had heard of Kolibri by name a few years ago. But, as with many things in life, that slipped into the archives too. Then, as I was shoveling through dozens of Web pages that have something to do with indie music, I found an entry from the St. Petersburg, Russia, Times.
The headline stated that Natalya Pivovarova died in a car crash last year in the Ukraine. I didn’t know that.
Some may ask, “Who is Natalya Pivovarova.” The obituary/story notes that she was one of the the founders of Kolibri, an all-women vocal group. This gathering of four talented women debuted at the Leningrad Rock Club in 1988 for International Women’s Day.
Pivovarova, Yelena Yudanova, Inna Volkova and Irina Sharovatova performed together for 10 years, sending six CD/album collections out into the world. Known not only for their singing talent, but also for their amazing costumes and theater-like performances, Kolibri attracted a strong following for the time.
Pivovarova, who was 44 when she died, continued to work as a theater director after 1998. She described herself as “a person of the theater.” In 1997, the Russian indie music Web site, www.gromco.com, called Kolibri one of the most interesting, original and talented bands in Russia. Kolibri albums included Malen’kie Tragedii (Little Tragedies), Manera Povedenija (Manner of Behavior), Naidi 10 Otlichii (Find Ten Differences) on Triarii label, and Bes Sahara (Devil of Sugar).
As mentioned earlier, this may change the way I look at music, at least a bit. I’ll have to rekindle my interest in Russian music and have a listen to Kolibri again.
Tags: independent music, indie music, indie, music, i didn’t know that
