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We are very happy to announce the decision of the international jury concerning one of the three winners of the second national competition “creole – World Music from Germany” 08/09. We hereby extend our heartfelt congratulations to our creole prize winner THE SHIN!
With their highly virtuoso blend of native polyphonies and polyrhythms, the Georgian ensemble was enthralling. A joyful and dynamic conversation between jazz-rock, flamenco and funk, their music also processes the influence of the guitarist John McLaughlin in a very original way. With its spirited dance interludes, The Shin’s stage performance was moreover one of the live highlights of the creole finale 08/09.
“EgAri” (“That’s it!” in Georgian) is a spectacular project of The Shin, which is shaped around traditional Georgian instrumental styles, polyphonic vocals, and folk dance. EgAri is a non-conventional hybrid of archaic and modern elements, Caucasian and non-indigenous instruments, startling Georgian harmonies and more familiar jazz threads. It reinitiates a peaceful dialogue between East and West, old and new, “ours” and “theirs”―a dialogue which has existed in Georgian culture for centuries.
The Shin, in their search for a sound that is definitively Georgian, have created a trans-regional fusion of various Georgian styles. Their project EgAri is based on Georgian instrumental music, traditional polyphonic vocals, and folk dance, and unites for the first time these quite separate segments of Georgian culture.
The Shin formed in 1998 in Germany where Zaza Miminoshvili and Zurab J. Gagnidze have been living since the end of the 20th century. In the early 21st century, Mamuka Ghaghanidze hurried to join them. Since then, The Shin have been on their musical mission as a trio.
The group members are well known even in their Georgian homeland as leading composers and musicians. They have scripted pieces for productions at the Tbilisi State Theater, numerous film, TV, and radio projects, have participated in various festivals and have won several prizes in recognition of their work.
Amazingly, The Shin are able to smoothly combine Georgian folk melodies with jazz, native polyphonic singing with scat, and in general the music of the near Orient with the modern sounds popular in the West today.
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1. Take This Morning – 4:35
2. Old Friend – 5:44
3. Chips On The Water – 6:20
4. What Then? – 3:34
5. Swanny Waltz – 4:42 (A gentle waltz with a hard happy end, that tells of the life and deeds of a hero in a heroic epoch)
6. Born In The Saddle – 4:43 (Philosophical ruminations of a Caucasian cowboy)
7. Grass & Asphalt – 7:15 (Well, what can you say about this? Everyone knows in the Heavenly Empire that the hard is conquered only by the soft)
8. On Tiptoes – 5,56 (Will you manage to keep staying; you will see many things from above)
9. Standard Lullaby – 4:28 (No time to sleep – time goes already backwards)
10. Grandma’s Blessing – 1:09 (Nothing to comment – just pure love)
11. Chips On The Water – Video (for PC only)
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Zaza Miminoshvili (guitar)
Zurab J. Gagnidze (e- bass, Guruli vocals),
Mamuka Ghaghanidze (lead vocals, percussion)
Mamuka Chichinadze (lead vocals)
Aleko Khizanishvili (chonguri, duduki, chiboni, dance)
Hvicha Hvtisiashvili (panduri),
Zviad Totiauri (lead duduki)
David Skhirtladze (dance, doli)
Givi Bakuradze (vocals)
Tsiuri Mtchedlidze (vocals)
Merab Sanodze (percussion)
Recorded live at Tbilisi on 30.12.2005. Mixed at Art Of Time studios by Achim “Lumo” Huber and Zurab J. Gagnidze. Designed by Marcel Somen. Photos by Martie Seesing. Chair on cover: Voorhuis design. Stage photos by Gia Chkhatarashvili and David Khizanishvili. Chokha-dress from Jimsher Bedianashvili. Translation by Natasha Aristov. Special thanks to David Shengelia, Familie Volož, Alex Kilian and others.
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