|
The Band
The Luna Band was formed in June, 1987 as the Oles
Kuzyszyn Trio, consisting of Oles Kuzyszyn (keyboards/vocals), Bohdan Kuzyszyn (drums/vocals) and Yuri
Turchyn (guitar/violin/vocals).
The band quickly gained popularity on the Ukrainian zabava and wedding
circuit, performing at Soyuzivka, Verkhovyna, the Chervona Kalyna Annual Debutante Ball and various other venues. Beginning
in 1990, Luna performed for five consecutive years at the Garden State Arts Center (now the PNC Arts Center) in Holmdel, New
Jersey, backing the stage shows of a number of top vocalists from Ukraine, including, among others, the late Alex Holub, the
Lybid Trio and Pavlo Dvorsky.
Bassist Nick Roberti joined Luna in May 1996, and the trio became a quartet, and
has remained so until today.
In 2001, the band released their critically acclaimed debut CD "Listen ...
And You Will Hear", which received extensive airplay on Ukrainian and world music radio programs.
Today,
the band consists of four professional musicians, all of whom have active, full-time music careers in addition to playing
with the Luna Band.
|
 |
|
| December 1989 as the Oles Kuzyszyn Trio |
|
|
| November 1999 at Soyuzivka |
|
|
| August 2008 at Tryzub |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Oles Kuzyszyn
Keyboards/Lead Vocals
|
|
| Photo by Wowk Photography |
Luna's music director, Oles Kuzyszyn, holds a B.A. and M.A. in Music
Theory from Columbia University and a Piano Performance Diploma from the Ukrainian Music Institute in New York. Before Luna,
Oles played in the bands Chervona Kalyna (1975-1977) and Iskra (1977-1986). A songwriter, arranger
and record producer, Oles has credits on a number of albums and several commercials and soundtracks. He is also a music
publisher and works as an AVP in the Performing Rights Group at ASCAP, the leading music licensing organization in the
world.
Yuri Turchyn
Guitar/Violin/Vocals
|
|
| Photo by Wowk Photography |
Yuri Turchyn is one of the top jazz violinists in New Jersey, and a veteran
of a number of acclaimed bands, such as Kinderhook, The World, Now Voyager and the Tim Gillis
Band, to name just a few. He is an in-demand session player with numerous recording credits. In addition to Luna, he
is the music director of Grupoyuri, a popular Latin/Jazz/Worldbeat ensemble for which he writes all the music. He
owns and operates Wheatsheaf Productions in Roselle, NJ, where he has recorded projects by several prominent artists.
Geoff Fleming
Bass Guitar/Upright Bass/Vocals
|
|
| Photo by Wowk Photography |
A graduate of the prestigious Hartt School of Music at the University
of Hartford, Geoff Fleming is a multi-instrumentalist, conductor and experienced music educator. Equally adept on upright
bass and electric bass, he has performed with orchestras, rock and blues bands, jazz ensembles and big bands throughout the
northeastern U.S. In addition to performing with Luna, Geoff leads his own jazz trio. He is a string teacher and student orchestra
conductor in the West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District in Central New Jersey.
Al Selert
Drums/Percussion
|
|
| Photo by Christine Syzonenko |
Al Selert attended Livingston College where he studied with Al Harewood and
the late Freddie Waits. Playing professionally for forty years, Al has worked and recorded with many New York and New Jersey
area bands, including the Foots Band, the Hudson River Rats and currently with GrupoYuri. He has appeared on the A & E
Network television show Live at Caroline's Comedy Club with comedian Carol Leifer. He has performed with the great vocalist
Esther Satterfield and other area jazz greats such as Vic Juris, Mike Mallio, Vinnie Carreio and Jeanie Bryson.
|
|
