Starting out as a folk quartet, Nayekhovichi was transformed into a psychedelic punk klezmer band in 2004 under the reigns of vocalist and guitarist Vanya Zhuk. Also known as Moscow Klezmer Trade Union or the Ultimate Klezmer Garage Band (UKGB), Nayekhovichi’s blend of Russian roots rock music, lively klezmer tunes, Yiddish folk songs and Soviet pop create what they call a ‘klezmerized rock’.
Currently based in St-Petersburg, Nayekhovichi consists of Vanya Zhuk (vocals, guitar), Max Car-Pycheff (clarinet and tenor saxophone), Mitya Khramtsoff (bass, vocals and fiddle), F. Machine-Genius (drums) and Grig Spiridonych (trombone).
Zhuk’s vocals in Russian, Yiddish, English, German and French have enabled him to collaborate with renowned international klezmer artists such as Sophie Solomon, Daniel Kahn, Paul Brody, Michael Alpert and David Krakauer.