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Vasil Hadzimanov

Vasil’s concept of mixing Balkan traditional, folk rhythms and melodies with modern musical styles (most originating from the west, including: jazz; funk; avant garde; electronica; rock; trance; and more) has been the impetus for creating his own unique "musical hybrid," of sorts. This sophisticated sonic stew is completely original, authentic and embraces a bold new approach to musical expression within the context of the fusion and jazz genres.

It was this vision that inspired him to form The Vasil Hadzimanov Band, back in 1995 — when they made their first recordings and began performing live.

In 2001, the group released their first official album release, "11 reasons for…," published by the major Eastern European regional label, PGP-RTS. The album's first print run sold out in only three months, and saw the band be honored with Beovision award, in 2002, for the "Best Debut Album of the Year."

In the summer of 2002, they joined celebrated director Goran Paskaljevic and his film crew, in the making of a documentary film about Belgrade, for ARTE Television. Vasil composed the music and the band, fronted by their percussionist Bojan Ivkovic, acted and performed music in the movie.

2003 saw the release of their second CD, "Kafanki," again published by PGP-RTS. For this one, they won the “Suncane Skale” 2003 award, for "Best Instrumental Album of The Year (2003)."

On the 19th of November, that same year, the VH Band performed on the “Enter Music Festival,“ in Belgrade, sharing the stage with The Zawinul Syndicate — featuring the late, great keyboardist and composer, Joe Zawinul. (After hearing the band perform live, Zawinul himself would later invite Vasil and the band to perform in his new club in Vienna, called "Joe's Birdland," in the spring of 2005.)

In June 2004, the VH Band were invited by the violin virtuoso, Nigel Kennedy, to perform with him, in support of his huge Belgrade concert. The results were mesmerizing, for the audience and particpants, alike!

In the summer of 2005, the band represented the sounds of Balkan music, at Expo 2005, in Aichi, Japan. The concert was a huge success, attended by over 3000 people — breaking all previous attendance records for the venue.

Numerous appearances all over the world followed, and continue; and the band would release three more albums — all critically- acclaimed in the region — prior to coming on board with MoonJune Records and releasing their international debut, "Alive."

All five of their previous albums have been officially declared as "Artwork of Cultural Significance," in their native Serbia.

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11
Album Review

Samo Salamon: Dances Of Freedom

Read "Dances Of Freedom" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


Slovenian guitarist Samo Salamon released a top-ten-of-the-year masterpiece CD in 2022, Dolphyolgy: Complete Eric Dolphy For Solo Guitar (Samo Records). On this tribute to the late reedman who was always an unconventional, free-flying artist, Salamon examined every composition in the Dolphy songbook. Dolphy for guitar was a surprise and certainly must have been a challenge. Salamon rose to it with an improvisatory zeal and affection for the reedman's work. The guitarist expands his palette in 2024 with Dances ...

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Radio & Podcasts

Michel Colombier, Jaco Pastorius and John McLaughlin

Read "Michel Colombier, Jaco Pastorius and John McLaughlin" reviewed by Len Davis


Brazilian drummer Cuca Teixeira, French band Shob, and from Croatia Vasil Hadzimanov Band with David Binney. Fontanelle from their album Vitamin F and Dennis Chambers from Groove and More featuring Scott Henderson. French composer the late Michel Colombier with guest Jaco Pastorius, and Jaco Pastorius again with a track from Modern American Music. We finish with John McLaughlin and a tune from Electric Dreams. Playlist Cuca Teixeira “Tunta" from Groove Reunion (Self Produced) 00:00 Shob “Charpie" from Voraces ...

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Album Review

Vasil Hadzimanov and Bojan Zulfikarpasic: Live at Kolarac

Read "Live at Kolarac" reviewed by Nenad Georgievski


The duet album between two simultaneously very similar and very opposite musicians, pianists Vasil Hadzimanov and Bojan Zulfikarpasic documents their two encounters that occurred in February and October 2015 at the prestigious concert hall in Belgrade, Kolarac. Both musicians have their distinguished careers in often different branches of jazz, have different sensibilities and yet they still find mutual ground and communication because of which this set is strangely engrossing. These two hit a remarkable rapport during the performances and that ...

1
Album Review

Vasil Hadzimanov: Alive - featuring David Binney

Read "Alive - featuring David Binney" reviewed by Claudio Bonomi


Ottimo e abbondante il menu di “cucina" fusion offerto da questo live confezionato dal compositore e tastierista serbo Vasil Hadzimanov insieme al suo gruppo che, per l'occasione, si onora della collaborazione del noto sassofonista americano David Binney (virtuoso del sax alto, noto oltre che per i suoi numerosi lavori come leader per aver suonato con Uri Caine, Maceo Parker, Medeski, Martin & Wood e altri). Binney anche in questo caso fa il suo dovere, con assoli misurati e taglienti al ...

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Album Review

Vasil Hadzimanov Band featuring David Binney: Alive

Read "Alive" reviewed by Nenad Georgievski


Critical to the success of this live album by the VHB is the fact that this band is, at its core, a working band. If you have seen VHB live, you will recognize that this album faithfully relays both the showmanship and ingenious punch of this unit. Obviously, this installment of the VHB is a highly maneuverable vessel that is capable of executing a multitude of ideas, be it electronica, African, free jazz or rock ideas. The stage is the ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Dances Of Freedom

Samo Records
2024

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Live at Kolarac

Self Produced
2017

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Alive

MoonJune Records
2016

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Alive - featuring...

MoonJune Records
2016

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Zulu

From: Alive
By Vasil Hadzimanov

Videos

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