Music CD details

Balkan Horses Band

'Contact: Part One'

(UBP044)

Musicians:
Tamara Obrovac (Croatia) - voice, wooden flute
Vlatko Stefanovski (Macedonia) – guitar, composer
Theodosii Spassov (Bulgaria) - kaval, voice, composer
Aleksandar Sanja Ilic (Serbia) – piano, composer
Kostas Theodorou (Greece) - double bass, composer
Emil Bucur (Romania) - panpipe
Hakan Beser (Turkey) - percussion
Stoyan Yankoulov (Bulgaria) - tupan, drums, composer
Krassi Jeliazkov (Bulgaria) - acoustic guitars, tamboura

Label - UBP International, Bulgaria
Released 2003

Recorded live June 2001 at the Antique Theatre, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

From Press Release:
'During the last few decades the existence of dictatorships and totalitarian rule in the countries of the region raised confrontation in a political, economical and cultural aspect. As a result the peoples of the Balkan Peninsula separated themselves in closed systems, not knowing the cultural and public life of their neighbors. We witnessed the bursting genocide on the territory of former Yugoslavia, exercising strong destabilizing influence over the relations between different ethnic groups in the other Balkan states, as well. In spite of these somewhat artificially created clashes the Balkans continue to be a united field of culture and spirit, the most explicit expression of which we find in the sphere of arts and most of all music.

UNESCO’s proclaiming the year of 2000 as the International Year of Culture and Peace inspired AQUA STORM Music and Performing Arts Agency to be the initiator of the idea of creation of a Balkan Cultural Project in the field of Ethno and World Music. Nine of the most distinguished Ethno, Rock, Jazz, Ambience and New Age composers and performers participated in the Balkan Horses Band International orchestra.'

Tamara Obrovac (Croatia) was born in 1962 in Pula. She is a jazz musician, composer and singer, one of the few singers in the area who, in addition to her constant improvement of her own personal style of improvisation, composes jazz and ethnically inspired songs. She has collaborated and shared the stage with many jazz musicians.
For more information visit her web site: www.tel.hr/istra/tamara 

Theodosii Spassov (Bulgaria) and his kaval have managed to conquer Western & Eastern Europe, Asia, Australia, Canada & United States of America in 15 years. During this time the artist released 17 CDs, including 6 solo albums which became popular all over the world. He has composed and participated in the recording of the soundtrack of many movies. As a soloist, he is a regular guest to the popular River Dance Show.

Vlatko Stefanovski (Macedonia), former member of the band LEB I SOL - one of the biggest names in the ex-YU music scene. His solo career showcased his various interests, from deep ethno roots to ambient moods and classical blues.
Stefanovski has an incredible guitar technique. According to INDEPENDENT: 'Guitarist Vlatko Stefanovski is extraordinary … his lyrical extravagance and animation easily separates him from the guitar fusion herd.'
For more information visit web site : www.vlatkostefanovski.com.mk

Aleksandar Sanja Ilic (Serbia) One of the most famous composers of pop and rock music of former and new Yugoslavia. He writes music for theater, film and television, and his instrumental music 'Delta Project' was the most frequently broadcasted and the best selling project of instrumental music of all times in Yugoslavia. Sanja Ilic, entirely inspired by the Balkan folklore creates a own music-scene project 'BALKANS 2000', presented many times in Yugoslavia.
For more information visit web site: www.sanjailic.yuonline.net


Kostas Theodorou (Greece) plays double bass, lute, bazooka, tabla, classic guitar, etc. Born at 1965 and grown up in Macedonia - Greece. Besides recording and touring with Mickis Theodorakis, Kostas Theodorou has been involved in the recording of 35 albums of popular Greek composers as multi-instrumentalist. In Cologne, he is working with Intermission Orchestra.

Emil Bucur (Romania) One of the most brilliant performers at traditional Romanian instrument nai, famous the world over thanks to the popular player Zamfir. In 1990 he started playing in the orchestra of the Romanian radio. As a soloist of different orchestras, he has been to lots of places over the world, making popular Romanian folk music.

Hakan Beser (Turkey)  is one of the few jazz musicians who seriously challenged accepted international concepts by developing an indigenous style of his own derived from and often performed with authentic Turkish instruments. By virtue of his classical training as a percussionist and his early background in Turkish folk music, Hakan Beser was one of the very few Turkish musicians equally at ease with both western and Middle Eastern rhythms. He has managed to successfully combine the traditional sounds of Turkish instruments with the improvisatory spirit of jazz, winning gradually recognition and respect for the unique musical blend he was offering: an expert fusion of Turkish folk melodies with Western jazz improvisations, all spiced up with dozens of African and South American rhythms..
Never lacking in technical brilliance, flair, imagination, and most of all musicianship, his skill and expertise have made him one of the most internationally respected percussionists on the jazz scene today.
For more information visit web site: www.hakanbeser.com

Stoyan Yankoulov (Bulgaria) was brought up with the folk music thanks to his father, when at 12 years old, Stoyan started playing tupan with folk orchestras at weddings. 'Playing the tupan is a way for me to communicate with others', says Stoyan. In addition to the traditional style, he plays the tupan like a Bulgarian type of drum set. He is capable of a very orchestral drumming style. It may sometimes seem as if there is more than one percussionist playing. Yankoulov breaks up and expands traditional tupan playing, developing new techniques. Occasionally he plays the tupan with brushes and enriches the sound of drums by using cowbells, metal sheets etc. 

Krassi Jeliazkov (Bulgaria) started to play the classical guitar at the age of 13. In 1983 he graduated the Popular & Jazz Music Department at the Bulgarian National Conservatory. He is a band leader, author of theatre, film and jazz music, manager and producer. Initiator and leader of the Balkan Horses Project.

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Balkan Horses Band

'Contact: Part One'

(UBP044)

This symbol  indicates an mp3 sound clip for that track. Click on the symbol and wait for the clip to start. For more information click here. Tracks

1. Balkan 2000 (9'20")

2. Touch the Moon (8'06")

3. Friend's Song (8'42")

4. Gypsy Song (7'00")

5. Viki's Song (5'18")

6. Anathema (11'59")

7. Kalajdzisko Oro (10'02")

Duration (60'28")

Our mp3 samples are approximately 30 seconds long and of low(ish) quality for a fast download (file size app 300KB)

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