"Bravo" (Bravo) is a Russian band that gave us such hits as "Stilyagi from Moscow", "Vasya", "Road to the Clouds" and others. They not only became the kings of rock'n'roll, but also popularized the retro style. And both in music and in clothes. Inimitable ties and colorful suits became their main "thing", allowed them to stand out from the rest of the performers. This group can be safely called the brightest, colorful and original representative of the Soviet and Russian variety.
Stylistics of songs
The collective "Bravo" is called a rock band, although their musical genre is slightly different from the traditional rock sound. In the melodies are seen more rock and roll motifs, notes of blues, jazz, beat of the 60's, rockabilly.
At different stages of creativity they brought something new to their compositions. Moreover, this band always followed fashionable trends in music, improved arrangements, included new instruments. With the advent of the 2000s, they began to use elements of disco, which greatly expanded the audience and attracted new fans. They boldly step in step with the times, while maintaining a unique style.
Who entered the history of the band
In 1983, Evgeny Khavtan and Pavel Kuzin leave the project of Garik Sukachev and look for themselves in the musical field. They create their own collective, where they gather the same talented and ambitious people. The first composition of Bravo looked like this:
- Evgeny Khavtan (guitarist, author of lyrics, manager and permanent leader of the group);
- Pavel Kuzin (drummer);
- Alexander Stepanenko (saxophonist);
- Andrey Konusov (bass guitarist);
- Ivanna Anders (she is also known to everyone as Zhanna Aguzarova, the soloist).
With this team they recorded their debut album, which was distributed through friends.
A year later, having already collected a decent collection of songs and feeling confident in their own abilities, they organized their debut concert in the House of Culture of Mosenergotekhprom. But it did not end the way the artists expected. They were arrested by the police for "illegal entrepreneurship", calling the concert underground. The musicians had to write explanatory notes, but Jeanne was the most "got". Her passport was recognized as invalid, and she was accused of forging documents. For several months the girl was kept under investigation, and then deported from the capital.
During her absence, Sergei Ryzhenko became the vocalist. When Aguzarova returned, she continued her work in the group. But it did not last long: because of disagreements in the team, she parted with Bravo and began a solo career.
After the departure of the soloist, her place was first occupied by Anna Salmina, then there was Tatiana Ruzaeva, and then came Evgeny Osin. He stayed at the microphone for about a year.
And then came Valery Syutkin... He became the "face" of the band. An attractive, charismatic guy with an interesting vocal helped Bravo to climb to the top positions of music ratings, record dozens of hits, attract huge attention to the band and earn the love of the public.
In 1990 the renewed line-up of the band debuted. Igor Danilkin took the place of the drummer, Sergey Lapin played bass, and Alexey Ivanov became the saxophonist. The band was supplemented with a trumpet, which was masterfully handled by Sergey Bushkevich. Valery Syutkin and Evgeny Khavtan remained unchanged.
In 1994 Valery Syutkin started his solo career and left Bravo. His place is taken by Robert Lents, who is no less successful as a vocalist. During the same period Pavel Kuzin returns.
The current lineup has remained virtually unchanged. Mikhail Grachev now takes the place of bass guitarist, Ray Frometa plays percussion, Yana Blinder, vocalist, takes part only in some sound recordings.
Music they have carried through the years
The group "Bravo" from the first performances took the image of stilyagi. Bright stage costumes, original dances and the most popular style in music of that time made them real fashionistas and conquerors of hearts, especially women's hearts.
After the first "unforgettable" concert they got into the "black list", where Alice, Aquarium and other eccentric and scandalous bands were already. But it had no effect on the public's attitude to them. On the contrary, it developed even more interest in their creative activity.
After the release of their first album they performed at several large-scale festivals, appeared on the TV show "Musical Ring", took part in the charity concert "Account No. 904" (organized to raise funds for Chernobyl victims). In 1987, the young group, which had proved itself well, released Bravo, based on their first album, which sold 5 million copies. It was a resounding success.
From that time they started touring: first in Russia, then in the countries of the Soviet Union and abroad. Then the music video "Vasya" appeared on radio and TV screens. The people went crazy about this composition, and the artists were inspired even more to create musical masterpieces.
In 1994, at the very peak of popularity, they gave a series of concerts dedicated to the 10th anniversary of creativity. Then Zhanna Aguzarova sang with them on stage. Since then, they traditionally invite previous members of the collective to their anniversary performances.
Their next album came out after the change of the soloist. With Lenz, they released "At the Crossroads of Spring" and "Hits about Love". Their last work was not successful. Interest in the collective began to fade. The album "Eugenics", released in 2001, was not like the others - it contained disco motifs, and in most of the compositions sang "veteran of the group" Evgeny Khavtan.
Then there was a 10-year break. But the true fans continued to listen to Bravo and impatiently waited for new compositions. They waited only in 2011. All songs were re-recorded, modern arrangements were made. Critics called this work the best in the biography of the band.
In recent years, the musical collective has intensified. New songs are written, performances at major festivals and concerts come one after another. In 2017, a book about the history of the Bravo group was published (author Alexey Singer).
About further events in the collective read in the catalog of artists on the website kontramarka.de.
Discography:
1987 - BRAVO.
1987 - "Ensemble Bravo"
1989 - "Bravo Group"
1990 - "Stilyagi from Moscow"
1993 - "Moscow Beat"
1994 - "Road to the Clouds"
1996 - "At the Crossroads of Spring"
1997 - "Serenade 2000" (mini-album)
1998 - "Hits About Love"
2001 - "Eugenics"
2007 - "Jazz in Orbit"
2011 - "Fashion"
2015 - "Forever"
2018 - Unrealized
