snobb
Berklee graduate Vasil Hadzimanov is a son of one of the most popular Macedonian chanson singer Zafir Hadzimanov.After few years he spent playing in US, he returned to his native Serbia and founded what currently is obviously most professional Serbian jazz fusion band (with another Berklee graduate bassist Vlada Samardžić on board).
The history of modern days West Balkans jazz isn't easy at all. Being one of advanced jazz country in all Eastern Europe in late 70-s, during Balkan wars musical tradition in all former Yugoslavian countries were destroyed and all best musicians were emigrated to Western Europe or US. As a result new generation of competent jazz musicians in region almost doesn't exist at all.
In that situation, Vasil Hadzimanov band is almost a miracle - extremely professional musicians play jazz fusion,seriously influenced by Joe Zawinul at the top level of musicianship. Hadzimanov as keyboardist is all excellent, and mostly keyboards based band's sound is authentic enough mixing mid-70s fusion with clever doze of Balkan folklore. Possibly some conservative look on material could be criticized, but knowing the musical situation in the region such genre's choice looks quite understandable though.
Even if this album is first of all keyboards-based fusion example, there is enough space for each musician,and everyone of band's members demonstrate extremely high professional level. Great thing is there is not overdose of Balkan/Gypsy folk elements in band's music (not an often case for region bands).In all,excellent if a bit vintage fusion album,one of the best jazz release coming from Western Balkans from last few decades.