Guitar player, singer and songwriter Arsen Shomakhov was born in 1969 in Nalchik, in Russia’s North Caucasus. An old family piano had been the first Arsen's musical instrument. Later he discovered his passion for the guitar and began his self-education listening to the recordings of jazz and blues greats.

 

He released two albums in Russia – Heavy Steppin’ (2002) and Troublemaker (2003) and soon found himself in the limelight of public attention. Arsen is always welcome at major Russian blues festivals, his songs are included in the airplay lists of numerous blues radio and internet stations all over the world.

 

In November, 2004 Arsen met Joe Morabia, the president of American label Blues Leaf records, who came to Moscow to negotiate a possibility to release Arsen’s music on the label. As a result, the album called "Dangerous" came out in the U.S. on February 14, 2006.

 

In February, 2005 Russian Blues Community delegated Arsen Shomakhov to the 21st International Blues Contest held in Memphis, Tennessee.

 

 

Currently Arsen is residing in British Columbia, Canada. His new album "On the Move", recorded with the best blues musicians of the Western Canada, is due to be released on the Blues Leaf Records this July.