Nicholas Sadikov

Interview for the magazine In / Out
. Talked - Dmitry Maloletov
. Printed in consultation with the editors of the journal IN / OUT

. When you listen to the sound of Blues Hammer Band in club "Forte", sitting at the table, want to shout: "Hey, Jim!" A little more whiskey! "


. And although the restaurant is quite respectable, . nothing in common with the American cowboy period boozer, . every Wednesday (it appears on Wednesdays Blues Hammer Band in the "Forte") atmosphere in the club almost as on the banks of the Mississippi at the end of last century,
.

If we assume that the arts, particularly music, is a reflection of reality, then the group Blues Hammer Band in that reached the highest skill

. Slide guitar Nicholas Sadikova, . his American style of singing combined with the amazing harmonica trills "grandfather Moscow blues" Petrovich, . breath bass Peter Majewski and mischievous game drummer Alexander Grechannikova create a unique sonic flavor of the wild West,


. Someone thinks blues music is too simple and predictable, . someone outdated and monotonous, . and someone refers to the blues as a pure gold, . eternal values, . as classics, . underlying all styles of popular music of our century, from early jazz to the most recent "Computer-loops" alternatives,
. I myself am in the latter category of musicians, for whom the blues, as they say music critics - "an inexhaustible source of inspiration, one musical island, which always will" drink "crystal clear water, without chemicals, without a modern impurities:

. There are many varieties of blues
. Blues Hammer Band representatives rather country-blues, which is closely intertwined country music, "white" ballads, "black" labor songs, archaic country blues ...

Although the blues in its musical form is not hard to play it for real, to say the least, very difficult. In this music, in addition to technical training and knowledge of certain stylistic and Performing laws, requires that blues spirit of freedom, which is produced over the years, all manner of life. Perhaps so many musicians trying to hurriedly create a blues band, even well versed in blues guitar fingerings frets, can not reflect the mood that should give listeners a real blues.

However, this article is not entirely about the blues, which can be said for a long time (but it's better to just listen). Singer, . author of many songs and instrumental pieces Nikolai Sadikov, . besides, . One of the best slide guitar players in Russia and in that guitar towards the conversation with him will be interesting to many guitarists, . wishing to learn specific ways of playing the slider and get acquainted with the special tools for this,
. In addition, Nicholas Sadikov sound engineer working at one of the best recording studios in Moscow "Sonic-Service, has the professional knowledge and a fairly wide experience in the recording studio.

Dmitry Maloletov: When did you start playing slaydomN

Nicholas Sadikov: First, like all the guitars I played the blues on the conventional electric. We had a group of "Fly to Bluesland", in which I was the guitarist. We played, we can say for the soul, tk. space for performances with such music (fusion blyuzn), but still an unknown group, while there was virtually no. But a little more than five years ago, as commonly heard on the radio program SNS Andrei Evdokimov "The whole blues". Once he put on the air the song "Di-di-wo-di-di" very interesting guitarist Blind Blacke-a. In this blues, this amazing singer played guitar and sang. I really liked the fact that the blues, played in the accompaniment to one acoustic guitar, sounded self-sufficient, very interesting and unusual.

So I became a fan of country-blues, trying to master the techniques of playing the guitar in this style. But a little later I heard John Hammond-and whose performance is just shocked me! He brilliantly played the guitar slider, sang and played plus the harmonica. I was so inspired by this performance, that this style simply lost my head. At that time I clearly saw that it was like. We had to learn to play a slider on the guitar, learn the technique for playing harmonica and vocals go in. Just at this time, I met a great guitarist Andrew Shepelev, which is a master of Hawaiian playing technique slider (and not only, it is still a great bandzhoist).

This guitar played on unusual resonator guitar, which was called "good". Besides, he had a resonator guitar made by our master of Russia, Victor Stetsenko's drawings of the Andrew Shepeleva. By the way, for this resonator guitar made himself Andrew. Subsequently, I bought him this unique, one might say, a historic guitar. So I started to learn this tool. One of the first national resonator guitar wizard Victor Ctetsenko Russia


But I needed more and learn to play the harmonica. I went to the concert "Petrovich" - the most famous in our country bluesman, who fully play this instrument. His manner of playing, phrasing, sound presentation, knowledge of style, taste, everything was in the highest degree masterly. I met this musician and asked him to help me with training manuals on harmonica.

Petrovich was an amazing person, he invited me home, gave me a lot of unique books that are impossible to find in any of our library.

A week later I came to return the books, took with him bought from Andrew Shepeleva resonator guitar.

When she saw Petrovitch, he had just lit up my eyes. It turns out that he had long been an admirer of resonator guitars. Moreover, he himself did on their own technology - the cover of the dome of the Zhiguli, and the cavity of the plastic drum.

Of course, we just played together well-known blues and were in the heat of the moment, so we all "rolled", we decided to do a duet - slide guitar and harmonica.

Nicholas Sadikov and Mikhail Sokolov (Petrovich)

Photo of Andrei Evdokimov


However, after a few rehearsals, we realized that our business has great prospects, tk. duo to work half an hour (it is in these conditions can be somewhere to speak) it is very difficult because of some uniformity. So we invited and our bass duo became a trio. But such a structure do not give a full concert program. Ultimately, we found a drummer, and our structure took the form of a full-fledged blues group. Currently, our team played great musicians - bassist Peter Majewski and drummer Alexander Grechannikov With Blues Hammer Band
. left to right and top-down:
. Peter Majewski
. Alexander Grechannikov
. Mikhail Sokolov - "P."
. Nicholas Sadikov
.

. Dmitry Maloletov: So your idea to become a "one-man band" walked away until the second planN

. Nicholas Sadikov: Now I am more focused on the game in the group on guitar technique, on vocals, to songwriting
. But continually doing, gathering musical baggage, and perhaps eventually, this will result in a solo game.

Dmitry Maloletov: You Petrovich and sing exclusively in English. This music does not tolerate "Russian coloring" N

Nicholas Sadikov: How we made no effort, the Russian language does not fit the style of our group. For this we must change something in the melody and rhythm, and perhaps even in harmony, and in general sound concept. What happens as a result you can guess - it will be on the blues. While we do not want to go far from the blues classics.

Dmitry Maloletov: Yet you write songs, and I learned that the texts you write yourself, but also in English.

Nicholas Sadikov: In addition to well-known blues songs, still want to do something his own, although it is quite difficult. Framework of our style does not allow to go far in the direction. So many songs and instrumental pieces that I wrote, are not included in our concert repertoire, as they are somewhat in contrast to the classic blues hits. But some things still do not

. Dmitry Maloletov: You studied singing, or think that blues folklore does not require obrazovaniyaN

. Nicholas Sadikov: Yes, I studied two years of vocal class at the studio with Gnessin School Larisa Mikhailovna Koval, brought up many famous artists
. It is a wonderful teacher and a man, now I am doing independently, using its methods.

In general, at the expense of musical education, I always think that it is essential to modern musician. Currently I am perfect the technique of playing the guitar, studying jazz harmony, improvisation, private. I think that I will learn all my life, tk. path to perfection is endless.

Dmitry Maloletov: Nick, I want to ask you some questions about the resonator slide guitars. I know that in addition to the game, you thoroughly study the history of these types of guitars. Such a dialectical approach in the development of a tool in the modern time, guitarists can be found very rarely. So, what is a resonator gitaraN

Nicholas Sadikov: Cavity guitar is different in design from the usual acoustic guitar. The aim of its creation was maximizing sound tool. But the thing about this guitar, in addition to greater volume, even in the fact that it has a characteristic, more metallic timbre and sustain high. The cavity of this model guitar is nothing but an acoustic amplifier. This sound amplification is achieved by the fact that stand (or a lower threshold of) does not rely on deku (as in conventional guitar), and the aluminum plate (or several plates), made in the form of a cone. This plate is located inside the guitar and string vibration resonates. This resonant cone closes the lid with holes, whence came the sound.

Dmitry Maloletov: Remotely all are reminiscent of the speaker, closed metal grid: Who invented such gitaruN

Nicholas Sadikov: the inventor of this model guitars were Americans John and Rudolph Dopyera immigrants from Austria-Hungary. John Dopyera patented trehkonusnuyu resonator guitar in 1927. and called it National. Trehkonusnaya resonator guitar


Then in 1929 they invented a new kind of resonator and named this guitar "DOBRO".

Notice that the word "good" purely Russian, as the brothers Dopyera have Slavic roots.

Then went the improvement of resonator guitars in the mid 30-ies, they began to manufacture electric guitars, including cavity-type.

Generally, in the early 30-ies was just a boom for these guitars.

Tools made brothers Dopyera, were the most popular at the time, as now, is: write, Fender or Ibanez.

Ideas that have developed, and John Rudolph Dopyera, formed the basis for the production of guitars and brought up many famous manufacturers.

Incidentally, Adolf Rikenbekker, later founded his own company, which went down in history - the first serial production electric guitars (1931!), Got their knowledge, working at the company National. So, that John and Rudolph Dopyera played a huge role in the history of guitar.

Brothers Dopyera: Emil, John and Rudolph.
.


. Dmitry Maloletov: They were engaged in the production of only resonating types gitarN

. Nicholas Sadikov: No, apart from the resonating guitars, they were doing and resonator banjo, mandolin, chetyrehstrunnye bass guitar (1928-th year!), Based on the same principle of acoustic amplification, violin and even harp
. In purely resonating instruments, brothers Dopyera engaged in the manufacture of power tools (guitars, banjo, fiddles, mandolins, etc.) and even tube amps.

Dmitry Maloletov: Why exactly these guitars were used slide gitaristyN

Nicholas Sadikov: Well, first of all, they sound somewhat louder, and could thus enter into the texture of ensembles as a full-fledged tool. Secondly, these guitars sound brighter, louder. Plain wooden guitar with the game slider sounds quietly and a dull. Finally, sustain - in the longer stretches of resonator guitar sound that is very important when playing slider.

Dmitry Maloletov: A common technique when playing these guitars can be used.

Nicholas Sadikov: Yes, certainly. This is a common inherently guitar, where you can play the usual way, just more vocal and possessing a characteristic metallic sound.

Dmitry Maloletov: But you use the concerts, and the standard acoustic guitar:

Nicholas Sadikov: For the professional work of a musician should be a few tools. Therefore, besides the resonating guitar, I have excellent electro-guitar "Taylor", which gives a "wooden" warm sound. So, playing the guitar without a slider, I chose this guitar.

Dmitry Maloletov: I now want to focus on performing tricks. Actually, as far as I know the slide guitar technique has spread around the 20-ies.

Nicholas Sadikov: Yes, this technique has mass is in the 20's - early 30-hgodov. This is due to the popularity of the blues, which at that time attracted the attention not only Americans but also Europeans. Incidentally, the first blues recordings were made during this period. But to play a slider, naturally became much sooner!

Most likely, this technique has the game came from Africa, where from time immemorial played a stone or a knife, slipping on the tightrope. This primitive musical instrument, which did not present much difficulty in the manufacture of improvised means, most likely used by blacks from the very beginning of their importation to America. Then this game concept has been transferred to the guitar. First recognized masters of this technique were Joseph Tekuku (the first guitarist who gained fame), James Hoa (1876), Frank Ferera (1890) and many others. Until we have reached a rather scarce information about the history of this technique, but in 1900 a well-known musicologist Gus Cannon heard the musician Alex Lee, perfectly owns this technique Games. The first entry, which used a slider, was performed Blind Willi Johnson in the 20-ies of our century.

It should be noted that the slide technique was developed in two directions - Hawaiian technique and Botle neck (bottle)

Hawaiian technique of playing, holding the guitar playing part of the headstock horizontally. Basically Hawaiian technique has spread in the style blue GRASSE (Country) Among the virtuosos of the game modes can be distinguished Jerry Douglas, Mickey Andrews, Stacy Phillips, Le Roy Mack and others.

Technics Bottle neck, when the guitar with the game had its normal position, has spread to the blues, and later, and in rock. The advantage of technology Botle neck that can combine a slide guitar technique with the usual, which gives greater flexibility in creating guitar parts. Among the masters Botle neck like to mention Dave Hole, Alen Roth, Roy Rogers, Ry Cooder, Paul Black, Sonny Landreth, John Mooney, and many. dp. At present, many famous guitarists use in their work this technique. Among them are Eric Clapton, David Gilmore, Richie Blackmore, Chrise Rea, Gary Moore and others.

Dmitry Maloletov: What guitar you ispolzueshN construction

Nicholas Sadikov: For the convenience of the game slider appropriate tune a guitar in an open system, that is, that major chord sounded in the open strings. I mainly use the system D (daf # dad) and G (dbgdgd), the same construction can be done in the "mi" and "la". To play in different keys using kapodaster.

Dmitry Maloletov: I guess you know that now is the guitar digital devices that can change the structure of a guitar pedal (ie. create presets with individual settings for each string). I think it provides great convenience slide guitarist.

Nicholas Sadikov: In terms of convenience may be yes, but here the sound itself is important that digital guitar processors can not give.

Dmitry Maloletov: What are the difficulties in the development of playing technique slayderomN

Nicholas Sadikov: First intonation. Although the game can be guided on frets, but the blues as you know, a lot netemperirovannyh notes, which distinguish bluesy style of the other. Of course, there are difficulties in making sound. Play claws (special thimbles to get a specific sound) is not easy. Also, when the game slider is difficult to master the game and polyphonic slide technique combined with the usual playing guitar. Voobshchem, many difficulties, the tool is not easy to master and requires, like any other musical instrument, a lot of time and effort.

Dmitry Maloletov: How do you articulate his guitar at the concert and in studio

Nicholas Sadikov: In the studio acoustic instruments best record with a microphone. I've been experimenting in this area. Sometimes I mixed with electronic sound with the piezo transducer (firm Fishman). At a concert in microphone for guitar podzvuchki use is problematic, so I use a special amplifier for acoustic guitars - Trace Acoustic TA-100, connected to the line. Buy this amp advised me famous guitarist Ivan Smirnov, who also uses it in concert performances for the sound of acoustic guitar.

Dmitry Maloletov: As far as I know, you're still working sound engineer at the studio "Sonic - Service. How did you come to zvukorezhissuruN

Nicholas Sadikov: First, I worked on TV since 1991, an assistant sound engineer. I started from the bottom - sets the microphones on the set of gears, commute equipment, etc.. Then, when it gained experience, became a sound engineer. Worked on many channels, including NTV. Although I liked this work and I learned a lot, took a lot of TV time. All this served to the detriment of the music, especially when we have already rehearsed with Petrovich. So in 1996 I moved to the recording studio "Sonic - Service", which was more flexible, and the work itself was more creative than TV.

Dmitry Maloletov: Probably working in a major studio, too time-consuming. Do not interfere if you are seychasN

Nicholas Sadikov: As they say, the best holiday is a change of. At the studio, one job at a different stage. Studio work or just does not restrict my freedom and the time that I spend in the studio, working with colleagues and various performers, does not go in vain.

Dmitry Maloletov: Maybe you work at the studio of necessity, simply because of the fact that a lot of music, not make any money, and professional sound engineers - the people on the high-paying.

Nicholas Sadikov: No, I never deal with the fact that I do not like, only to earn money. For me, if you say metaphorically, the music is brilliant, and the record - frame. I love to do both - and create music, and "draw" it in a record. I think that any musician should own recording skills, at least for a very basic level - to make their own home computer recording.

Dmitry Maloletov: In so far as I know, the studio "Sonic - Service", in addition to regular studio work, specializes in recording "live" concerts.

Nicholas Sadikov: Yes, our studio is mobile, mobile ministudiyu and experienced. This work is responsible, tk. If something does not get or let you down equipment, nothing can rewrite. (Note. Author: rewrite then of course you can, and did so before, but this is not "live" performance.) We recorded a lot of concerts, which are then broadcast on TV. Among them, "Rondo" Alla Pugacheva, EF. Kirkorov, the group "Lube", Zemfira, Alsou.

Dmitry Maloletov: For many readers IN / OUT eager to learn about recording technology shows. In a nutshell, as does vyN

Nicholas Sadikov: We use 32-x (4x8) channel digital recorder TASCAM DA - 88. Sound "pick" through the split box, ie. the sound of instruments and microphones to the sound engineer is the group working on the room and on our recorder. We write, we dry tracks, and in the studio to handle and make the reduction. Further, this record puts video editing on a video.

Dmitry Maloletov: Nicholas, the editors of our journal, and I personally want to thank you for the interesting interview and wish you success in music and studio work.

Nicholas Sadikov: Thank you: I am a regular reader IN / OUT for about ten years. And I wish you continued prosperity.