YURI YUNAKOV, IVO PAPASOV, SALIF ALI & NESHKO NESHEV - Together Again 2005

Yuri Yunakov, Ivo Papasov, Salif Ali and Neshko Neshev are not only Bulgaria's most famous ensemble and giants of world music today, they are creators of Bulgaria's and Macedonia's so-called "wedding music," a bubbling Romani soup of village folk tunes spiced with jazz, rock, Turkish and Indian flavors. This music flourished in Bulgaria even when suppressed by the government (it was considered Rom or "gypsy" music). It has now become the most widely listened to form of folk/popular music in both Bulgaria and Macedonia and in their diaspora communities. The creativity and dizzying energy of this music will shock and delight you -- fast speeds, impossible rhythms, plummeting key changes - this is some of the most exciting world music on the scene today.

In Bulgaria, Yuri and Ivo achieved the status of rock stars. Wedding music thrived as a countercultural expression. Nevertheless, they were repeatedly harassed, fined, and twice sent to prison for playing Rom and Turkish music, which were prohibited as part of the socialist government's program to eliminate "foreign" elements.

In 1994, Yuri emigrated to the United States and became one of the most sought-after musicians in New York's Macedonian Rom, Bulgarian, and Turkish communities. He has released three CDs in the US to critical acclaim: New Colors in Bulgarian Wedding Music (1997), Balada (1999) and Roma Variations (2001) on the Traditional Crossroads label. Ivo, meanwhile, has recently returned in full force to the international scene and with undiminished popularity, winning the 2005 World Music Audience Award from BBC Radio 3.
read more here:


link in comments!

enjoy!

IVO PAPASOV (Ibryama) - The Best CD 2000

IVO PAPASOV (IBRYAMA) - Clarinet

Legendary virtuoso clarinetist!
As a creator of contemporary Balkan music, he long ago became part of global culture.

Thirty years ago, in 1974, long before Balkan music was discovered on the major music scene, Papasov started his revolution with his Trakija Band. At the time he could hardly have known that he was creating a new movement, later known as wedding band music, a mix of Bulgarian and Balkan folk with contemporary elements. His work changed the face of Bulgarian and world music and developed it in new directions.

No wonder his fans around the world call him the King of Wedding Band Music. In deference to his amazing talent, Bulgarians call him the Aga (the Master). And Papasov really is part of the best moments of their lives. His music resounds not only at major concert venues, but also at the important days of their lives, their weddings and family celebrations.

Ivo Papasov is now 52 with a brilliant musical career behind his back. He appears on innumerable productions and albums. Two of his albums were produced by Joe Boyd (who produced Pink Floyd, REM and others). Global media of the calibre of The Guardian, The Washington Post and The New York Times write about him in superlative terms. Flattery for Ivo Papasov has come from world-famous musicians like David Sanborn and Frank Zappa and famous and respected experts and connoisseurs like Simon Broughton and Timothy Rice.

Ivo Papasov works with world-renowned musicians like Milcho Leviev, Peter Ralchev, Teodosii Spasov, Antoni Donchev, Johnny Griffin, Hector Zazou, Okay Temiz, Glen Velez, Kepa Junkera, Arild Andersen, Kalman Balogh, Iva Bitova, Sergei Starostin, etc.

He plays at festivals in Paris, Gypsy Festival Tilburg, Dunya Rotterdam, Eropalia, Krakow, Budapest World Music Festival, Moers Festival, TFF Rudolstadt, Schloss Elmau, Horizonte Koblenz, Facherwelt Karlsruhe, Salzburg, Balkanfever Vienna, Waidhofen Thaya, Huesca Festival, Cormons Jazz & Wine, Jazz Progetto Cremona, Time in Jazz Sardinia, Umea Folk Festival, Moskow Etna etc.

Clubs and Halls like Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, the Soedra Teatern in Stockholm, the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York, Ronnie Scott’s in London, Szene Vienna, Treibhaus Innsbruck, Moods Zurich, Bimhuis Amsterdam, etc.
[taken from http://www.elen-music.com]

Musicians:
Ivo Papasov - clarinet
with:
Kosta Kolev, Dimiter Trifonov - arrangements, conductor
Peter Ralchev - accordion
Trifon Trifonov - saxophone
Yuri Yanakov
Stefan Angelov
Neshko Neshev
Thrace Orchestra and other orchestras

tracklist:

1. Slow Song and Bachevsko Horo (5'48")
2. Ivailovsko Horo (3'46")
3. Slow Song and Haskovska Ruchenitsa (4'07")
4. Spasovsko Horo (3'27")
5. Dyadkova Ruchenitsa (3'51")
6. Papazliisko Horo (3'53")
7. Slow Song and Stamboliiska Ruchenitsa (3'05")
8. Chelekovsko Horo (5'15")
9. Dulboshka Ruchenitsa (3'27")
10. Mariikono Horo (3'13")
11. Kurdjaliiska Ruchenitsa (4'12")
12. Hristuyanovo Horo (5'08")
13. Papazliiska Ruchenitsa (4'12")
14. Kurdjaliisko Horo (4'23")
15. Kolarovsko Horo (4'31")
16. Iliikovo Horo (4'25")

enjoy!