The Steppes of Ukraine can easily be compared to the tranquil vastness and beauty of the Canadian Prairies. The Sounds of the Steppes is a group of musicians who originally started in 1995 as a trio accompanying a Children's Ukrainian Choir and then later, an Adult Ukrainian Choir in Dryden Ontario. The original group consisted of Allen Mazurski on mandolin, Ken Denby on guitar, and Jeannette Denby on accordion. Ken switched over to bass when Origene Legros and Tom Stratton both joined the band on lead and rhythm guitar. Ed Wladyko rounded out the group on drums until leaving because of employment reasons. Humberto Pacheco then sat behind the drums. At 87 years of age, Origene left the group and the band has been a 5-piece since 2000.
The Sounds of the Steppes have performed in various Ukrainian festivals and celebrations such as the Dauphin National Ukrainian Festival, the Dryden Ukrainian Festival and 'Cossack Days' in Thunder Bay. In addition to playing Ukrainian Music, the band is quite versatile playing many other styles of dance music. They have performed for numerous telethons and festivals including the Ear Falls 'Trout Forest Music Festival' and the 'Norsemen Festival' in Red Lake. They also perform at old time dances, weddings, anniversaries, socials and coffee houses. The group is very proud with their first recording "O' Ukraine" and they hope you enjoy their second recording - "the Next Steppe".
The Sounds of the Steppes have appeared on many venues including:
Red Lake Norsemen Festival
Ear Falls Trout Forest Festival
Thunder Bay Community Auditorium
Dauphin National Ukrainian Festival
Jeannette Denby
Jeannette's love of music takes her back to the young age of seven, when she got her first accordion from the Eaton's Catalogue. From 1959 she performed in and around Thunder Bay, Ontario until moving to Dryden, Ontario, in 1973. She and her husband formed The Borden Family Band, beginning as a duo, and then evolving into a trio, and finally a quartet. They recorded the album "The Good Times". Jeannette has worked with many other musicians in Northwestern Ontario, and Manitoba and has entertained at every imaginable event. She has also had the pleasure of playing and recording with the country gospel group Outreach.
Ken Denby
In 1955, Ken started his musical career with the country band Curley and the Playboys playing guitar and singing live on CKDM Radio on Saturday afternoons in Dauphin Manitoba. He has since performed in a variety of musical venues with numerous bands and musicians in Manitoba, Ontario and northern United States. Ken also formed The Denby Family Band. He taught music for the Yamaha and the Suzuki Schools of Music and owned his own music store called Kenby's Music. He's been teaching instrumental music privately for thirty-three years and has recorded on ten albums and numerous singles.
Allen Mazurski
When Allen asked, at an early age, for a violin for Christmas, there was none to be had, so his mother bought him a mandolin; he fell in love with it's sound. Allen took mandolin lessons while attending evening classes at the Ukrainian Prosvita Society School in Thunder Bay. Later in high school, he played guitar, saxophone and clarinet in the school band, after a lengthy time away from public performing due to education and career; he brought together the talented musicians to form The Sounds of the Steppes. Allen enjoys researching Ukrainian music, sharing and preserving the Ukrainian heritage. He especially enjoys performing and his enthusiasm is infectious. In recent years, he has fulfilled his childhood wish and now plays the violin as well.
Tom Stratton
Tom started his musical career at the early age of twelve. His father played many different instruments and encouraged Tom to play the guitar. At one time, Tom also played the bass guitar. He played his first dance in 1960, and he played for the princely sum of $5.00 and a case of beer. Gone are those days!! Tom has played with many musicians, and several bands in Dryden and Northwestern Ontario. He has performed on telethons, festivals, talent shows, and has entertained at weddings, anniversaries, socials, old time dances, fall fairs, and the lounge scene. Tom has also recorded with a country band and a bluegrass gospel group.
Humberto Pacheco
Humberto graduated from McGill University in Montreal as a percussionist, with a Bachelor of Music Degree focusing on Music Education. As an elementary and secondary music teacher, he has taught classes in band, strings, guitar and piano. As a percussionist, he has performed with the McGill Symphony Orchestra and the Mississauga Symphony Orchestra. He has performed across Canada and Europe as a vocalist in various community choirs, as well as an instrumentalist and conductor in a wide range of music from folk groups to classical ensembles, to rock groups. He is found on various recordings, and for the last decade has used Midi technology to compose jingles for radio and television, as well as composing/arranging scores for jazz and concert bands.
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Musicians
Allen Mazurski Mandolin
Jeannette Denby Accordion
Ken Denby Bass Guitar
Tom Stratton Guitar
Humberto Pacheco Drums, Percussion, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Accordion
Recorded at the home of Allen and Karen Mazurski - in a setting of solitude on beautiful Wabigoon Lake, Northwestern Ontario by TONE MACHINE of St. Catharines, Ontario.
Engineered by Gary Borden
Mixed by Gary Borden and Humberto Pacheco
Produced by Gary Borden and the Sounds of the Steppes
Typesetting & Graphics by Polar Bear Productions
Photography by Fern Stratton and Jeannette Denby
Special Thanks to:
Fern, Deanna, Karen and Families for their patience and support... Tom and Fern for use of their home for our rehearsals... Allen and Karen for the picturesque setting of their home for recording and photos
A Special Big Thank You to all the great people who purchased our first recording... O' Ukraine. We hope you enjoy this... the Next Steppe.
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