Vosbikian, Jezayir (Instrumental)/Yaris Ismen Negvadzeh
Name/Title
Vosbikian, Jezayir (Instrumental)/Yaris Ismen NegvadzehDescription
The Vosbikian Band, established in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1939, is widely recognized as the longest-running and most influential Armenian-American dance band in United States history. Founded by the brothers Samuel, Manuel, and Joseph Vosbikian, who were born to first-generation Armenian immigrants who survived the genocide and hailed from Malatya, the ensemble served as a vital cultural bridge. Growing up during the Great Depression and subsequently serving in World War II, the Vosbikian brothers were heavily influenced by the big-band swing jazz scene of the era while maintaining a deep reverence for the traditional village folk music of their heritage. This dual exposure inspired them to create a completely new, hybrid musical style often referred to as "kef" music. They uniquely synthesized traditional Anatolian rhythms and melodies with an American big-band presentation, utilizing an unprecedented instrumentation lineup that paired the traditional Middle Eastern oud and dumbeg hand drums with western jazz instruments like the saxophone and piano. The band originally went on hiatus during the war years, but reformed with a complete lineup in 1946 as "The Fabulous Vosbikian Band," which catalyzed a major renaissance in the American-Armenian social landscape. Between 1949 and 1951, the group recorded eleven pioneering 78-rpm shellac records, marking the first time an American-born Armenian dance band had formally recorded their music. They achieved another major milestone in 1957 by releasing the first long-playing (LP) vinyl record in the genre. Their music perfectly complemented regional social dances such as the collective line-dancing of the "shourch bar" and expressive solo "tak bar" steps, making traditional music highly energetic and accessible to younger generations. The band's historical layout and arrangements set the exact blueprint for dozens of subsequent Armenian-American community ensembles that flourished across the East Coast. The group successfully transitioned into a multi-generational legacy in 1963 with the debut of the "Vosbikian Juniors," featuring the young sons of the founding members who took over the musical repertoire. By continuously passing the mantle down to successive generations of clarinetists, saxophonists, and drummers, the family collective has managed to sustain its active performance and recording schedule for nearly nine decades, releasing extensive digital multi-volume compilations of traditional dance favorites and ensuring the survival of their unique immigrant soundscape well into the twenty-first century.Audio Format
78 RPM RecordRecording Type
MusicCategory
Vinyl Record