Discography







Kapustnik 2011


Kapustnik 2008


Kapustnik 2006

LOST IN KINO is the third album from composer and violist Ljova (a.k.a. Lev Zhurbin), focusing on his recent film works. The album's 24 tracks feature a wide range of textures and emotional states, from collaborations with the Gypsy band Romashka, the alt-indie-folk Tall Tall Trees, to cameos from the Hungarian cymbalom virtuoso Kálmán Balogh (playing a cue from Francis Ford Coppola's film "Youth Without Youth"), pipa player Wu Man, among many others, and of course featuring Ljova himself on viola, famiola and fiddle. Download and order your copy of "Lost in Kino" today at http://ljova.bandcamp.com/album/lost-in-kino. You can also purchase it on Amazon.com and iTunes.

MNEMOSYNE is a debut release by Ljova's ensemble Ljova and the Kontraband, a group dedicated to original music that washes away distinguishing lines between chamber music, jazz, contemporary global folk music. Mnemosyne is the Greek name for the goddess of memory, and in a way, this is a tribute to our collective experience. In the past few decades, there have been massive revivals in almost every genre and region of music. While a major part of these revivals has been to rediscover the proverbial “Golden Era”, we've concentrated on trying to take these directions further, freeing our musical influences from their historical characteristics and context. [More Info, Buy Here]

VJOLA: WORLD ON FOUR STRINGS -- Ljova's debut solo album. This album is a travelogue of sorts, though most journeys didn't take me much further than the Island of Manhattan. It is a dedication to the ever-changing neighborhoods of New York City, its diverse cultures, and of course its illustrious musicians, from whom I draw much of my inspiration. Everything you hear on this album (with the exception of Michael's accordion on "Garmoshka", and the synth bass on "Breadbasket Blues") was recorded by myself on a viola. Each instrumental part was recorded separately, one after the other, and most arrangements were improvised from rough sketches. The choice of using viola as a multi-track instrument was as much artistic as it was a matter of convenience – the ensemble was cheap, hungry for a new sound, and very much of a similar mind." [More Info, Buy Here]


Sony Classical 2010

Alondra de la Parra & Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas: Mi Alma Mexicana Featuring Ljova's arrangement of the classic Mexican waltz "Sobre Las Olas", as well as an extremely diverse and fascinating collection, spanning over 200 years of Mexican music.
  • Released worldwide, August 2010 (order via Amazon.com)

  • Fat Cat 2010

    Nina Nastasia: Outlaster A gorgeous album of heartbreaking songs by Nina Nastasia, beautifully produced and arranged by Paul Bryan, and featuring Ljova as the violist in string quartet. One of the most beautiful records you'll ever hear.
  • Released worldwide, July 2010 (order via at Amazon.com) -- and you can get it on vinyl, too!

  • Sony Classical 2009

    Jan Vogler & The Knights: Live from New York featuring Ljova's arrangements of Waltzes from Films by Dmitri Shostakovich, for cello + chamber orchestra, Ljova's composition "Garmoshka" (featuring soloists Jonathan Gandelsman & Colin Jacobsen), and Jimi Hendrix's "Machine Gun", arranged for cello & chamber orchestra by Kyle Sanna, recorded in a series of live performances in New York's Le Poisson Rouge, the location of the old Village Gate. Jan Vogler is an adventurous German cellist, and The Knights, conducted by Eric Jacobsen, is a vibrant chamber orchestra based in New York.
  • This YouTube video tells the story of the recording - check it out!
  • Released in Germany, April 2009; | Released in US, June 2, 2009 (order via Amazon.com)

  • Nonesuch Records 2009

    Kronos Quartet: Floodplain featuring Ljova's arrangements and transcrptions of music from Azerbaijan, India and Iraq, as well as arrangements by Jacob Garchik, Osvaldo Golijov, Stephen Prutsman; original music by Ramallah Underground and Alexandra Vrebalov.
  • Released Worldwide, May 2009 (order via Amazon.com)

  • In A Circle Records 2008


    World Village 2008

    PASSPORT and SILENT CITY ---The acclaimed new string quartet Brooklyn Rider has recorded two of Ljova's compositions, "Plume" and "Crosstown", for their debut CD release, "Passport". At the same time, Brooklyn Rider recorded a new Ljova arrangement of "Parvaz" by Kayhan Kalhor, on their World Village debut release, "Silent City", which also features the title track, co-arranged by Ljova and Kayhan Kalhor. [More Info]

    Sony Classical 2007


    Sony 2005


    Instant Live

    Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble -- "New Impossibilities" - The third release from Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble, featuring music by Rabih Abou-Khalil, Osvaldo Golijov, Sandeep Das, Zhou Long, and others, as well as The Silent City, composed by Kayhan Kalhor and arranged by Ljova. Get your copy today at Amazon.com!

    Silk Road Journeys: Beyond The Horizon
    - Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble present their second CD of collaborations between musicians of the Silk Road. Included here is music from Iran, China, Armenia, Azerbaijan, India and Turkey. Featuring two arrangements by Ljova as well as his major label debut on viola.
    Nominated for the 2005 Grammy Awards!
    Get your copy at Amazon.com!

    Yo-Yo Ma and Silk Road Ensemble - recordings of live concerts by the Silk Road Ensemble are available from the Ensemble's 2006 tour. These recordings include Ljova's arrangements of traditional Chinese folk tunes "Blue" and "Green" (with Wu Man), Kayhan Kalhor's "The Silent City", and the Taraf de Haidouks tune "Turceasca" (with O. Golijov). [More info]


    Sony Classics 2008
    "Tango!", a Sony Classics release, features the cellist Jan Vogler along with Moritzburg Festival's Soloists Mira Wang and Colin Jacobsen (Violin), Nicholas Cords (Viola) and Vanessa Perez (Piano). You can hear Ljova's arrangement of Astor Piazzolla's "Libertango" on this recording. Get your copy at Amazon.com

    Matador Records 2006
    MATMOS: The Rose Has Teeth in the Mouth of a Beast - The latest from hyper-innovative SF-based duo Matmos consists of ten aural and visual portraits of famous people such as Valerie Solanas (shot Andy Warhol), Larry Levan ('80s NYC dance DJ), Darby Crash (singer of punk group The Germs), King Ludwig II (mad, last ruler of Bavaria), James Bidgood ('60s gay porn director), William S. Burroughs (beat author), and many more. Accompanying each musical portrait is a visual one, commissioned by the band, by artists ranging from Dan Clowes to Adam Ansell to Jason Mecier. Various accompanists include Antony of Antony & The Johnsons, The Kronos Quartet, Bjork, Jay Lesser, and more... and featuring Ljova's string arrangement on "Solo Buttons for Joe Meek"! Get your copy today at Amazon.com!

    Deutsche Grammophon 2005
    AYRE - featuring original songs and folk music arrangements by Osvaldo Golijov, Gustavo Santaolalla and Luciano Berio. Performed by Dawn Upshaw and the Andalucian Dogs (featuring: Tara O’Connor, flute • David Krakauer, clarinet • Jamie Sommerville, horn • Ljova, viola • Erik Friedlander, violoncello • Mark Dresser, double bass • Bridget Kibbey, harp • Michael Ward-Bergeman, hyper-accordion • Gustavo Santaolalla, guitar/ronroco • Jamie Haddad, percussion • Jeremy Flower, sound design & laptop)
    Nominated for the 2005 Grammy Awards!
    Get your copy at Amazon.com!

    Tzadik 2007
    Convivencia - La Mar Enfortuna. La Mar Enfortuna is the Sephardic side project from the masterminds of legendary noir rock group Elysian Fields, Oren Bloedow and Jennifer Charles. La Mar Enfortuna is a modern exploration of lost or forgotten music mostly of the Sephardim from the 11th to the 16th century. Ljova plays viola on several of the tracks, in the ensemble that in addition to Charles and Bloedow includes Doug Wieselman, Ted Reichman, Robert DiPietro, and Brahim Fribgane, Chuscales, Liaqat Khan, and Benjamin Lapidus. [More Info]
    Presqu'ile - a collection of 12 original songs by Angus Martin and arrangements in French, Spanish, Italian, and Haitian Creole. Featuring (among others) Marta Topferova (vocals & percussion), Ljova (viola), Jenny Scheinman (fiddle), Kenny Kozol (drums), Chris Komer (French horn) and Yulia Musayelyan (flute).
    Get your copy at CDBaby!

    You've Stolen My Heart - Songs from R.D. Burman's Bollywood - featuring Asha Bhosle, the Kronos Quartet, Wu Man and Zakir Hussain -- as well as transcriptions from the original Bollywood recordings by Ljova. A very special treat!
    Nominated for the 2005 Grammy Awards!
    Get your copy at Amazon.com!

    Fragments - Assif Tsahar and the New York Underground Orchestra. Improvised new music, featuring a terrific ensemble, and several solos by Ljova.

    Get your copy at Squidco!
    SOHEIL NASSERI plays Yedidia, Zhurbin and Zyman. This debut recording by dazzling pianist Soheil Nasseri features the premiere recording of Ljova's "Sicilienne" in an arrangement for piano solo. This CD "single" also includes works by Ronn Yedidia and Samuel Zyman.
    Get your copy for only $5 at Soheil's website
      Alexander Zhurbin - An Attempt of Self-Portrait - includes performances by a wide array of artists (among them Ljova on viola, his father, and Ljova's mother singing!)   Recorded "Live" in a NYC studio. 
    Currently unavailable

    Heavenly Lullabies: A collection of peaceful lullabies, perfect for all children. Ljova joins a list of many talented + celebrated musicians, and performs here with the pianist George Davidson. All proceeds from the sale of this CD benefit the Twin Towers Orphan Fund.
    Listen to mp3 samples and order the CD here.

    Collaborations with the pianist George Davidson:

    With Love: -- Ljova's third collaboration in the Easy-Listening mode with Cayman Islands-based pianist George Davidson. More tunes you "know and love", and a few others you probably do not. Selections from Clayderman's repetoire, Morricone, and an original by George where Ljova accompanies in his signature multitrack style.
    Samples and info can be found at George's site.

    "ALLURE" -- with George Davidson (piano) and Ljova (viola). Another CD of beautiful melodies and peaceful arrangements, which includes an original tune by George, and another tune which George and Ljova wrote together.  A truly wonderful album. 
    Hear samples and buy it at Amazon.com.

    "Twin Strings II" - with George Davidson (piano), Eugenio Leon (Paraguayian Harp) and Ljova (viola)
    A relaxing collection of popular ballads and original tunes.  George is a very original artist in terms of his extremely free use of rhythm and a very "flowery"
    approach to piano playing. Ljova adds warmth with subtle viola background improvisations. See a tracklist and order at Amazon.com.