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Hristo Vitchev / Weber Iago: Heartmony
by Mark F. Turner
The meeting between two artists can represent an exchange of ideas and disciplines, as well as a sense of fellowship. Both are evinced in Heartmony, the second duo release from guitarist Hristo Vitchev and pianist Weber Iago; a collaborative follow up to 2009's The Secrets of an Angel on Vitchev's First Orbit Sounds label. With an air that's reminiscent of guitarist Pat Metheny and pianist Lyle Mays' simpatico, the eleven tracks include Vitchev's “The Farewell Suite," music ...
Continue ReadingHristo Vitchev / Weber Iago: Heartmony
by Dan Bilawsky
The choice between widening ones circle of musical partners or deepening relationships that already exist is often something with which musicians wrestle. While finding new collaborators can help in the networking department and open up new avenues of possibility in sound and style, continual exploration with a kindred spirit may help both parties in their pursuit of musical enlightenment, ultimately leading to a better artistic payoff in the end. Hristo Vitchev, a Bulgarian-born and Bay Area-based guitarist, knows a thing ...
Continue ReadingHristo Vitchev Quintet: The Perperikon Suite
by Dan Bilawsky
While Bulgaria and the Monterey Peninsula are worlds apart, culturally and geographically speaking, guitarist Hristo Vitchev successfully reconciled these differences in September of 2010. Vitchev, a Bulgarian-born guitarist living in the San Francisco Bay area, premiered his seven-movement Perperikon Suite at the 53rd Monterey Jazz Festival, and presents this music in stunning fashion on this recording. While the title of the suite takes its name from the ancient Thracian city of Perperikon, located in present day Bulgaria, the music doesn't ...
Continue ReadingHristo Vitchev Quintet: The Perperikon Suite
by C. Michael Bailey
The San Francisco Bay Area is harboring a musical danger in Bulgarian guitarist Hristo Vitchev. The danger is production of germane, even compelling modern jazz that engages and warrants attention. As styles and genres become less relevant, the direction Vitchev initiated with his quartet recording, Songs of Messambria (First Orbit Sounds, 2009), and duet release, Secrets of an Angel (First Orbit Sounds, 2009), comes into a more complete realization on The Perperikon Suite. Vitchev's quintet of guitar, ...
Continue ReadingHristo Vitchev Quintet: The Perperikon Suite
by Bruce Lindsay
The Perperikon Suite consists of seven tunes inspired by and dedicated to the ancient Thracian capital city. The ruined city is in the east of Bulgaria, home country of composer, guitarist and bandleader Hristo Vitchev. The Perperikon Suite is his third album as leader, while the work itself was premiered at the 53rd Monterey Jazz Festival in 2010. The music, performed by a terrific quintet, is beautiful: it captures images not of a city in ruins but of a city ...
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