Jazz Articles
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Next to Silence: Next to Silence
by Nenad Georgievski
With its incredibly varied roster of artists that encompasses various strands of jazz, classical, world music, along with interesting and unexpected amalgamations of the previously mentioned genres, the ECM label has been at the forefront of contemporary music for more than five decades. As such it has inspired countless other acts on how to write, produce, and with their high-quality cover art, even how to present their music. One of the bands who found inspiration in ECM's music is Next ...
read moreSvetlost + Odron Ritual Orchestra: A Wave Returns to the Ocean
by Vitalijus Gailius
South-Eastern Europe isn't a place jazz fans often consider. It's time to change old habits. Svetlost, one of the finest North Macedonian trio, debuted in 2014, and in late 2021 returns with a second collaborative album, recorded at the Skopje Jazz Festival in 2020. A Wave Returns to the Ocean steps in with ambient/field recording soundscape. This should not come as any surprise. Since the beginning, the band has regularly explored minimalistic electronic passages. Gradually, electronic ...
read moreSasho Popovski Trio: Fallen Land
by Nenad Georgievski
Is it necessary for jazz to be complex, challenging or boundaries busting in order to be considered “good"? Not necessarily. What is characteristic for guitarist and composer Sasho Popovski's seven compositions on Fallen Land is an emotional thread that runs through the mostly introspective, artfully executed performances and makes the tracks cohere. While the title refers to Popovski's native country, Macedonia, and the sweeping changes that have been happening there since around 1990, with their devastating effects on ...
read moreGoce Stevkovski Septet: Homage to a Dreamer
by Nenad Georgievski
In the raft of drummer-led records, many of those lack strong identity. Not this one. As a commanding drummer and compelling composer, drummer Goce Stevkovski stands above the fray. This ubiquitous drummer who is known for his affiliations with various acts to whom he has lent his dynamic yet sensitive groove, bands such as Project Zlust, DNO, Arhangel, Leb i Sol and Kiril Djaikovski, to name but a few, has shown to be a thoughtful composer and ambitious performer. With ...
read moreLetecki Pekinezeri: Letecki Pekinezeri
by Nenad Georgievski
Some bands achieve greatness early and others have to wait. Macedonia's Letecki Pekinezeri (Flying Pekinese) had to wait for six years for its debut, in the meantime honing its craft and tunes at local clubs and the occasional festival. During that time, its band members have gained a new breadth and maturity from experiences playing with musicians on the cusp of the jazz world or beyond, including Ljubojna, and Jordan Kostov Ensemble Moderne. As such, this self-titled album is also ...
read moreVasil Hadžimanov Trio: El Raval
by Nenad Georgievski
El Raval is an ambitious project that brings together three virtuosos: renowned keyboardist/pianist Vasil Hadžimanov; bassist Martin Gjakonovski; and drummer Alek Sekulovski. Each artist is a prominent figure in his own musical sphere and country, but with this recording the Vasil Hadzimanov Trio arrives as a unified band. What links these remarkable musicians together is guitarist Toni Kitanovski, who assumed the role of producer and contributed three tracks to the date. Each of them has played with Kitanovski's regular band ...
read moreIvan Ivanov Quartet: Wild Flower
by Nenad Georgievski
Saxophonist Ivan Ivanov makes his maiden voyage as a leader on Wild Flower, a marvelous recording that is steeped in the modern post bop sound. A member of a younger generation of jazz artists in Macedonia that have gained musical education outside the country, Ivanov brings a breath of fresh air with his debut. The leader's deft compositions are what make this CD a rewarding experience. From the start, there is much excitement in the band's playing, ...
read moreZoran Madzirov: Roots on a Roof
by Nenad Georgievski
Zoran Madzirov is truly one of the mavericks of Macedonian music--a superb and innovative musician, who has distilled a variety of influences from various styles and sounds into something that is uniquely his own. The fire, sensitivity and imagination that drive him seem to make him some sort of a Jimi Hendrix on the bottlephone. The music on Roots on a Roof easily falls into the category of memorable music, with a unique atmosphere and wonderful chemistry that makes it ...
read moreSethstat: Rolling Garage
by Nenad Georgievski
Rolling Garage is the fourth release by a jazz combo previously known as Seth. It marks a huge leap forward for the band and a great successor to the previous release, simply titled Sethstat. Well versed in the so-called art of jazz, the band's members are informed in nearly every jazz style that has ever emerged. Thus, this release is a showcase of their technical proficiency and diverse tastes. As a result of that, on Rolling Garage ...
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