Record Reviews

SASO POPOVSKI ~ STEPS ART MELODIES 100 ~ MACEDONIA ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2022 Released: 2023 This is an album by Macedonian Jazz guitarist / composer Saso PopovskiFind albums by this artist, recorded with a group of mostly local musicians, which comprises of bass guitarist Ivan BejkovFind albums by this artist, drummer Viktor FilipovskiFind albums by this artist, French violist Olivier SamouillanFind albums by this artist, Serbian pianist Vasil HadzimanovFind albums by this artist, flautist / saxophonist Kiril KuzmanovFind albums by this artist, and percussionists Aleksandar SekulovskiFind albums by this artist and Ratko DautovskiFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven tracks, all of which are original compositions by Popovski. I had the pleasure to meet Popovski behind the stage of the Nišville Jazz Festival last August, where I also met many other local and international musicians, during the three-days orgy of non-stop musical experiencers, as well as some old friends I have not seen in ages, like my Romanian Friend, poet / journalist Virgil MihaiuFind albums by this artist. This album was released on the French label Art MelodiesFind albums on this label three years ago and in the meantime Popovski released another album on the same label, which sadly is a digital release only… The music is quite unusual and very enjoyable, based seemingly on a simple melodic themes, which serve as a base for extended improvisations by the participating musicians. The sophisticated employment of Folkloristic Balkan melodic and rhythmic motifs and relaxed / pressure free interplays turn listening to the music into a deeply satisfying experience, but attentive repeated exploration will reveal to a patient and inquisitive listener many deeper and more complex layers, which are of course worthy of being discovered. There are many excellent instrumental performances, both by the leader and his cohorts, which display the highly professional level of musicianship and honest attempt to embrace and combine both the Jazz and Folklore elements, which by the way characterize many of the Balkan Jazz musicians, who prefer to explore their musical heritage rather than solely copy American Jazz influences. Overall, this is a most rewarding listening experience, especially for Jazz guitar buffs and Jazz-World Fusion enthusiasts, but of course also for all true Jazz lovers, to discover some less travelled musical paths. The delicate Middle-Eastern spicing and Balkan melodic lyricism is a balsam for one’s ears. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 12/09/2026Posted: 12/09/2026

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SALAMON / HADZIMANOV / MOSES ~ DANCES OF FREEDOM SAMO ~ SLOVENIA ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2021 Released: 2024 This is an album by Slovenian guitarist Samo SalamonFind albums by this artist, Serbian keyboardist Vasil HadzimanovFind albums by this artist and American drummer Bob MosesFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine tracks, all of which are co-composed by the trio members. The music is a wonderful amalgam of many elements, and although it is mostly improvised, it offers various melodic snippets, references to Balkan Folkloristic themes, Ambient layers and electronically generated effects. There is a confident, clearly defined flow and coherent progress, which makes this music accessible to open-minded listeners, who are patient enough to experience the music slowly, and follow it where the musicians take it. Although this is a trio recording, the music often sounds much fuller, with the instruments often disguised into instruments, which are not used in reality. The brilliant drumming by Moses keeps everything perfectly organized and the consequent tunes offer a diversity, which is rarely present in Improvised Music. Salamon is an extremely prolific musician, who recorded almost fifty albums since the turn of the Millennium, mostly released on his own SamoFind albums on this label Records label, with involve dozens of European Jazz musicians, and he definitely deserves to be followed. Overall, this is another document of Salamon’s feverish activity, which, as always deserves the attention of open-minded and aesthetically minded listeners. He manages to re-invent himself time and again and keeps an excellent company doing so! Highly recommended!

Updated: 16/02/2024Posted: 16/02/2024

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