
Hallo, Victor Smolski here

Since a couple of days I'm in the VPS Studios together with my band colleagues Peavy Wagner and Mike Terrana from RAGE, to produce and record another solo album. Songs of the "Old Master" Johan Sebastian Bach were arranged into some harder versions by myself and are the basis for "Majesty & Passion", the working title of my new solo CD. Most of this songs we already presented live together with Mike and Peavy during the Bach festival in Leipzig. Many other notable musicians and the Inspector Symphony Orchestra, which I founded in Minsk together with Andrey Zybrich (old band colleague from Inspector) will take part at the recordings.

Four years were gone since I composed, produced and recorded the "Metal meets Classic" album "The Heretic" in co-operation with the Orchestra Belarus and my colleagues from RAGE and which was noticed by the international press a lot. RAGE pretended my whole concentration during this time as we produced 3 studio albums and a DVD as well as numerous of live concerts were played world-wide. On the DVD you'll find lot's of first class livematerial, even songs, which were never played live before. Just lately I produced the voice for the new Seventh Avenue CD Eternals.

Here some infos to songmaterial and the concerned musicians:

Music: J.S.Bach
Arranged by: Victor Smolski

1.) Majesty & Passion

Suite 1:

2.) Courante
3.) Gavotte
4.) Forlane
5.) Menuet

Concert for Violin & Oboe with Orchstra:

6.) Chapter 3

Suite 2:

7.) Bourree
8.) Menuet

Suite 4:

9.) Sarabande

Concert for 2 Violins with Orchestra:

10.) Chapter 1
11.) Chapter 2
12.) Chapter 3

Bonus Tracks (from EP "Destiny"):

13.) Rocker Rider
14.) Day without your love
15.) Destiny

16.) Longing (Dedicated to my family)

I had some real heavy arragements for the band into my head, while the Inspector Orchestra perfectly playing in the background. I did a lot of experimentation and I think I found a new sound in combination with Classic.

Each song has a different character, from straight doublebass up to beautiful ballads. Never befor anybody has interpreted Bach in this way.

As an opener of the CD the title "Majesty & Passion" will start with the last words of J.S.Bach:

"My entire life has passed among deaf majesties, deaf city councils and deaf cities...it is nearly enough to drive a sane man to the edge of madness.

I was born into this deaf world with nothing but the passion and innate ability to play organ. All this was bequeathed un to me from Bach bloodline."

Steve Smyth

I met Steve Smyth in 1996 for the first time. I was guitarist of Mind Odyssey and we were supporting Vicious Rumors during their European Tour that time. On many other events, lately at God Of Metal festival in Italy, we keep our contact alive.

Steve Smyth is a guitarfreak starting playing together with Ariah in 1988, the Esseness Project followed in 1993. Together with real successful bands like Vicious Rumors, Testament and DragonLord Steve was on the road as their guitarist worldwide. Since a couple of months he is permanent bandmember of Nevermore now. Steve Smyth is also a guitar teacher in San Francisco, teaching for about 16 or 17 years now, enjoying it a lot, and trying to keep the metal fires stoked in the youth of today this way.

Mike Terrana

Long before Mike Terrana joined RAGE in 1999 he was well-known in the scene. The drummer, born in New York State, had already worked together with Yngwie Malmsteen, Tony Macalpine and many other musicians and bands. The recordings for "Majesty & Passion" are something special for Mike. Beside his perfect doublebass technic he can also translate his many-sided abilities into action. Mike has not only delivered perfect drumtracks, again you can hear his dark voice.

At the same time I composed a funky song for Mike's new solo CD and I played and recorded bass, guitar and keyboards in the studio.

Dirk Zimmermann

In my opinion Dirk Zimmermann was always one of the most interesting German drummer with perfect technic, full of feeling. Playing most complicated notes directly from the paper or change over from Jazz to heavy and straight grooves, seams to be child's play for him. Dirk has already demonstrated his talent on my first solo CD Destiny.

Dirk Zimmermann has studied at the Westphalien school for music, at the drumburg Hamburg (Dante Agostini), the Drummers Collective in Düsseldorf and at Marco Minnemann Drumming. Regular angagements at the Westphalien theatre in Castrop, 1 year "EVITA" in Hildesheim, different musicalshows u.a. with Angelika Milster, concerts with De/Vision (live recordings for VIVA) or Dave Alexander (trumpeter at Frank Sinatra) are the proof for Dirks first class drumming. Since years he is member at the Royal Garden Ensemble, he is playing in Münster with guests like Lee Konitz, Charlie Mariano, Sylvia Droste or joining CD productions together with the Zwillingen, Dino Alves and the Telekom BigBand.

Jürgen Knautz

It is a honour for me working together with such an highly gifted musician, whatching him rocking. This kind of bass playing from slapping up to tapping will be interesting for every bass player.

As an e-bass and double-bass player Jürgen Knautz is a demanded accompanist for the stars of the european Jazzvocalists like Silvia Droste, Greetje Kauffeld, Beverley Dailey, Wayne Bartlett and Knut Kiesewetter. Stylistic he won't be commited to Jazz music only. He played together with famous saxofon player like Gerd Dudek, Charlie Mariano and Lee Konitz. Beside other Jazz-, Soul- and Popproductions he can be listen as double-bass player at the last 2 Götz-Alsmann CD's. During his european concert tours the australien guitar legend Tommy Emmanuel trusts on Jürgens ability of playing the bass. Jürgen Knautz is musician, composer and arranger for movies, radio and television as well as musical conductor for international shows and musical galas.

Frank Itt

Already twice I was on stage together with Frank Itt at the Nordhorn Jazz and Rock days. Another co-opperation happened lately when Frank produced the CD "Der Bote", where also Jörg Michael (Stratovarius), Stefan Schwarzmann (Helloween) and Ralf Gustke (Xavier Naidoo) were present. In my opinion Frank Itt is not only one of the best German bass player, he's also the most sympathetic musician I ever met in Germany. I also think that his slogan is right: "The groove rulz!"

As a self-educated person Frank has started playing bass at the age of 18. He already played together with Jennifer Rush, Pili Pili, Michael Sagmeister, Till Brönner, Terence Trent D´Arbi, Errorhead, Jule Neigel ...

Andrey Zybrich

Already at the end of the eighties I played music together with Andrey Zybrich, up to 1994 we both joined the band Inspector. Andre activ co-opperated at the Bach project, he recorded the Orchestra parts for my new solo CD in Minsk and he also played the keyboardtracks.

Andrey Zybrich absolved a 16 years classical education at the conservatoire in Minsk where he examined as composer with diplom.

Uli Jon Roth

The former Scorpions guitarplayer, multi-instrumentalist, music director, artist in painting and poetry is a master of the art of composition and an inventor of new musical forms and structures. His journey of artistic expression and musical explorations has now reached a new plateau with "Metamorphosis" from Vivaldi's Four Seasons.

We are talking about presenting some orchestra event live together. Already now U.J.R. has contributed his great guitarplaying to my new solo CD.

Peavy Wagner

Since almost 25 years Peavy Wagner is active in the music scene. In 1980 he already founded his first band the "Dark Lights", then in 1983 "Avenger", which actually was the precursor of RAGE. Also sideprojects like the Punkband "Der Riß" and "Mekong Delta", the "great grandfathers" of the Prog-Metal scene, belonged to his musical activities during the eighties.

Peavy Wagner is also a fan of classical music. In 1996 he already produced the Lingua Mortis album together with RAGE and presented it live together with the Lingua Mortis Orchester at the WDR Rock Palast night. So it was obvious, that Peavy would also join the Bach project as well as my new solo CD. Most of the titels of "Majesty & Passion" Peavy, Mike and myself had presented live at the Bach festival in Leipzig in 2003.

Michael Sagmeister

Michael Sagmeisters musical career started in 1972 (self-educated person) Few years later he's already member of the Jazzensembles of the Hessisch Broadcasting, getting first engagements as studiomusician (Boney M., Supermax etc.) and released his first album at the age of 19. In behalf of the Goethe - Institut Michael Sagmeister undertakes concert journeys through South Asia and Western Africa and played together with musicians like John Mc. Laughlin, Larry Coryell, Jack Bruce, Billy Cobham, Steve Morse, Frank Gambale and Vinnie Moore during concerts worldwide. One highlight of his musical career was even a concert together with the Jazz guitar legend Pat Martino.

Already in 1985 Michael Sagmeister was choosen out to be one of the best Jazz guitar players in the world by the press, since 1988 Michael is instructor at the highschool for music in Frankfurt/Main and was there nominated to a Professor for music and art in 1999.

Stephanie Klco-Brosius

Following a short career in Molecular Genetics, the New York singer/songwriter Stephanie Klco-Brosius relocated to Germany in 1994. She performs a diversity of styles ranging from R&B, fusion, to the American songbook with ensembles ranging from duo to big band. In 2002, she co-founded the Jazz duo "in2it". CD projects include: Going Vocal (big band) and Do Something (jazz quartet) MUSICOM, Germany.

Alexander Rastopchin

At the beginning of my carrier I've learned a lot by Alexander Rastopchin, the former guitarist of Pesnyary. On our first common tours through the former USSR he gave me many tipps out of his extensive experiences.

From the late seventies till the beginning of nineties he was on the road 300 days a year with different bands like Suzorie, Vuiyachich, Pesnyary and solo performers, going through all ups and downs of a musician's life. The best part was his opportunity to see much of the world, including: Germany, Italy, India, Burma, Laos, Vietnam, Mongolia, Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, USA.

Since 1993 Alexander is living in NYC and do pretty much the same - play and teach guitar and make some electronic gadgets for musicians and sound engineers. He has played and recorded with a number of New York musicians like Frankie Paris, Mark The Harper, Moose and The Bulletproof Blues Band, Durand Daniel, "Flaming" Amy Coleman, Joyous Perrin, Roxy Perry, David Gross and John Macaluso, Glenn Branca, Laura Berman, Average White Band , Portia Girl.

Martin R. Doughty

Born in London in 1965 Martin R. Doughty began to do music at the age of 6. Just 13 years old he played at the National Children's Orchestra of Great Britain. 1983 he joined the british army at Paderborn, Germany, returned back to London in 1985 to study music at the Royal Queen Academy of Music where he graduated with first-class honours.

After the end of the "cold war" he returned back to Germany, working as entertainer, singer and trombonist in- and outside of Germany. Partymartin has worked together with Howard Carpendale, Ireen Sheer, Roberto Blanco, Al Martino and Johny Logan.

Sascha Gerstner

Beside an excursion into the world of vocalists (Dreamgate) Sascha Gerstner (Helloween) has collected his experiences as guitarist at Freedom Call. Since 2002 he is guitar player at Helloween.

Alex Beyrodt

Alex Beyrodt (Silent Force, ex-Sinner) has already worked together with Peter Maffay, Tony Carey, Michael Sadler (SAGA), Paul Shortino (Quiot Riot) in different studios.

Bern Aufermann

Bernd Aufermann (Running Wild, ex-Angel Dust) has been on stage as a session guitarist with Joachim Witt and Udo Lindenberg and has played on over 150 studio productions already.

Stefan Leibing

Stefan Leibing (Primal Fear) was guitarist at Insanity and Comedy Club before joining Primal Fear in 1998.

Marcus Deml

Born in Prague and growing up in Germany and USA Mr. Errorhead alias Marcus Nepomuc Deml is an exceptional artist who already worked for SAGA, Nena, Simon Collins, Rödelheim Hartreim Projekt, Laith Aldeen, Snap, Bobby Kimball, Rick Astley, Grooveminister.

Forces@Work

I already met this band when they had a contract with B.Mind Records. After an incredible concert at my metal club I decided to invite the band as guests at my new solo CD.

Forces@Work are playing progressive metal, without putting a limit in any way at there style. Both of their demo CD's "Coldheard Canyon" and "Forcilized" got very good reaktions of the press.