Customer Reviews

Boban I Marko Balkan Brass Fest

5 star:		(4)
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This is fun, optimistic music. But it is also beautifully played. It has an exotic feel for a Spaniard like me, although some phrasings and moods remind me a little of Spanish flamenco (not surprising, as we are talking of Mediterranean music played by gipsies -usually- in both cases).

Boban's band is still the best I've heard of Gypsy/Balkan music or brass band music as I've investigated the last 5 years. This album goes way beyond "world music" or "ethnic music" for me. It holds up against my favorite classical, jazz, or other instrumental albums. The arrangements are inventive, the playing is inspired and transcendental, the melodies and rhythms are infectious. Best of all, each track is strikingly different. This album runs the gamut from mournful to exuberant to funky to even a bit strange. If you like this kind of music at all or its watered-down contemporaries (a la Beirut), you will love this album. If you think you might want to try one Boban album, this is the one to get. It's in my top 5 of all time. I hope I get to see him live before I die.

I saw this band when they toured the USA a few years ago - the recording captures the powerful performance of these outstanding musicians very well. The song SAT (Time) has become one of my favorites - it is not typical of Balkan Brass, but after hearing a good version by the Italian Titubanda at the Honk!Fest in Boston I really "got" it! I have been playing "World Brass" on KFJC for many years - Boban and his Orkestar are still tops... makes me want to go to the Gucca Fest even more!

These people practice endlessly, just listen to the doubling (two instuments playing the same notes) and the subtle back and forth. I demand good musicianship.This group takes it to the the next level. They may be the best orchestra (orkestar) playing today.