Also known as Vlad, Jack Spade Role Guitarist Years active 1991—present Name Volodymyr Debryans'kii) | Origin Ukraine | |
Birth name Volodymyr Mikhailovich DeBriansky (Volodimir Mihailovich Debryans'kii) Occupation(s) guitarist, producer, composer Associated acts | ||
Instruments guitar , drums, piano | ||
Vlad DeBriansky (Ukrainian: Влад Дебрянський, born Volodymyr DeBriansky; 3 January 1972, Kalush, Ukraine), known mononymously as Vlad, is an American musician. He is known as a jazz, blues, rock and classical guitarist; composer and songwriter; music producer, television producer as well as an actor.
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Music biography
Vlad was born in western Ukraine in 1972 and studied jazz and classical music as a youth. He was a member of popular Ukrainian bands Forte, Tea Fan Club (Club of Amateurs of Tea, Клуб Шанувальників Чаю) and Loony Pelen (Луні Пелен), with whom he had several hit records in the Ukrainian and Polish charts. He studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts in 1996 where he took guitar lessons from Jon Finn and Norman Zocher. Later moved to New York City where he met and studied with Mike Stern and John Abercrombie. During his New York period Vlad gets offers from Blue Note Records, GRP Records and eventually signing with Orpheus Music. Collaboration with Orpheus lasted for 10 years. During this period Vlad makes California his home and in 2004 he releases his debut album 'Vladosphere" on Orpheus Music label. The album became a commercial and critical success with its single "Little Star" climbing to #4 place on Adult Contemporary radio chart bypassing Phil Collins and John Mayer. The following second US album Sun In Capricorn released in 2008 aired mostly on classical music radio stations around the US and received a praise from critics earning a Grammy nomination.
Vlad also worked in a role of a producer and a songwriter with such notable artists as: Donna Summer, Lauryn Hill, Katy Perry, Tony Levin and Pat Mastelloto (King Crimson), Orianthi, Holly Knight, Skyler Jett, Billy Sheehan, Joey DeFrancesco, Rahni Song, Nile Rodgers, Arno Lucas, Ray Brown Jr. and many others.
In 2014 Vlad formed a band "Jacks Last Dollar" and its new album "Part I" debuted as #14 on iTunes blues charts in the US.
In August 2016 Vlad releases a digital download-only album simply called "Blues". "Blues" reaches the top 10 downloads on iTunes Blues charts in Japan, United States and in Russia, reaching #1 in the Russia in September 2016 and #1 in US in May 2017.
Film and TV
In the fall of 2009 History Channel aired a series "Nostradamus Effect: Da Vinci's Armageddon" - where Vlad plays Leonardo da Vinci.
In 2013 he co-produced a popular TV music talent show "Boyuk Sehne" (Böyük Səhnə) aired in Baku, Azerbaijan, where Vlad as Jack Spade was also one of the judges.
Electric cars
Vlad is a spokesperson for the electric automobile company ZAP Automobiles.
Social and Political involvement
Along with Ruslana Lyzhychko, Vlad was one of the activists in the Ukrainian independence revolution in November 2013. He is the leader of a social-political movement Patriots (not to be confused with the Patriot Of Ukraine).
As an ambassador of Berklee College of Music, Vlad had founded American Music Academy in Kyiv, Ukraine. The school offers contemporary music education and music production. Among professors and advisors of the academy are known musicians and music producers such as Tom Rothrock, Reginald Love, Adam Joseph, Frank Parker, Rahni Song, Gerry Brown and others.
Vlad holds a position in Artistic Board at Youth Philharmonic Orchestra (YPHIL) in New York City at Carnegie Hall.