IAN MAKSIN at SAMOVAR (Mountain View, CA) – Mountain View, CA

December 26, 2024, 7:30PM

SAMOVAR HALL, 1077 Independence Ave, Mountain View, CA 94043

Get immersed in the soulful and soothing vibrations of the cello with world-acclaimed cellist, composer, and multilingual vocalist Ian Maksin, who sings in nearly 40 languages!

In the wake of his world tour spanning from Vancouver BC to Paris, France and from Tbilisi Georgia to Quebec City, Ian Maksin returns to one of his favorite places on the planet – Northern California! In this concert he will perform original instrumental music from his most recent releases “Amor Renatus”, “Alchemist” and “Sempre”. He will also share some of his favorite songs from his collection of over 300 songs in 37 languages including Spanish, Ladino, French, Ukrainian, Polish, Armenian, Georgian, Farsi, Turkish, Macedonian, Greek, and more!

Ian Maksin has created his own unique style by blending elements of different genres and traditional music from around the globe in a new way using his cello as the main unifying force. He uses the loop pedal and other electronic devices to augment the sound of the cello and turn it into an entire string orchestra. He writes original music, inspired by tranditional music from Mongolia, West Africa, Balkans, and the Middle East, and sings pop and traditional songs from around the globe in nearly 40 languages and writes his own original songs in at least four languages.

16+ recommended

SINGING IN 37 LANGUAGES: What began as a hobby and a passion for linguistics and travel has become part of a unique concert experience. At this time Ian Maksin sings in 30 languages including Ukrainian, Russian, English, Farsi, Armenian, French, Italian, Arabic, Hebrew, Mongolian, Bambara (one of the tongues spoken in West Africa) and many other exotic languages. Most of this repertoire was amassed by Maksin during his world travels, jam sessions and collaborations with local musicians. Many of his original songs and instrumental compositions are also infused with flavors of ethnic music from countries and regions where he drew inspiration from: Mongolia, West Africa, Middle East, the Balkans, Andalusian flamenco.

THE GLOBAL MUSICIAN: Ian Maksin was born in Leningrad, USSR into a multinational family and grew up absorbing many cultures and traditions from an early age. He began playing guitar and piano at age 3 and cello at age 6 at the School for Gifted Children in Leningrad and then came to the USA at 16 to continue studies at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City. After working for many years in the classical genre including a three-year tenure with the New World Symphony in Miami Ian has decided to look for his own musical path. His diverse musical experience, including playing rock and blues guitar and passion for jazz and world music has allowed him to take the cello to a new dimension and develop his own distinct style as a musician and composer. In Ian’s own words: “At some point I realized that music is much more than mere entertainment. Music is one of most powerful and unifying forces in the world, capable of healing, inspiring, bringing people together and bringing peace among them. I believe that cello will save the world”

BREAKING BOUNDARIES both musical and geographical, cellist, composer and multilingual vocalist IAN MAKSIN has created his own unique style by blending elements of different genres and traditional music from around the globe in a new way using his cello as the main unifying force.

ONE-MAN ORCHESTRA:In addition to cello, he used an electronic device called the loop pedal, which allows him to create “loops” or layers by recording and replaying his own playing in real time.