Bosko Petrovic's Nonconvertible All Stars - Swinging East (2015) [Hi-Res]

Recorded at the 1971 Berlin Jazz Festival, Swinging East is testimony to jazz’s ability to cross over international boundaries. Representing various Communist Bloc countries, the musicians were all-stars in their own lands, and three of the players, Croatia’s Bosco Petrovic, Polish violinist Michal Urbaniak, and Hungarian bassist Aladar Pege, gained international fame. Based on a melody from the Kolo, an old Serbian folk dance, Balkan Blues starts off in 7/4 then swings into a slow blues with emotive solos, and Pege’s virtuoso bowed bass. There’s a Latin and funk feel to Sigo’s Garden, with fine flute solos and Bosco’s warm marimba play. Based on an Estonian folk song, With Pain I was Born to Live fluctuates between a 7/4 and 4/4, with a beautiful section in which Bosco improvises on the tarabrooka, a traditional Macedonian drum, accompanying a short flute solo that captures the timeless Balkan soul. A fascinating mix of jazz and East European folk.

Dan Mîndrilă, Tenor Saxophone
Michał Urbaniak, Violin
Ozren Depolo, Alto Saxophone, Bass Clarinet
Ratko Divjak, Drums
Aladár Pege, Bass
Miljenko Prohaska, Electric Bass
Simeon Shterev, Flute
Boško Petrović, Flute [Darmarofon], Goblet Drum [Tarabooka], Marimba, Vibraphone
Salko Mujićić, Flute, Flute [Alto], Piccolo Flute
Tihomir Pop Asanović, Organ

Recorded on Nov. 4th, 1971 at Berlin Jazz Festival, Berlin
Produced by Joachim E. Berendt

Digitally remastered