Massimiliano Rolff Archive

Dimitar LIOLEV: Eastern Shadows – Slam

by Audiophile Audition | Nov 19, 2017 | Jazz CD Reviews

Dimitar LIOLEV: Eastern Shadows – Slam 581, 45:55 (6/26/17) ****: An inspired Bulgarian quartet collaborates on some Slavic-flavored original jazz charts. (Dimitar Liolev; tenor saxophone/ Martin Tashev; trumpet, flugelhorn, laments/ Massimiliano Rolff; bass/ Dimitar Semov; drums) An eccentric friend of mine set out on a quixotic journey to discover “the South” (of the United States). Dispensing with GPS and geographical conventions, he proposed to drive with his window down until he detected the smell of fried chicken. Like those mariners of old who were entranced by the aroma of cloves before the fabled Spice Islands hove into sight, he was overpowered well before registering the  sign “Memphis, Population 652,000” and fetching up at the doors of its illustrious chicken-serving establishment, where both nose and tongue consummated the long journey. I would like to make a similar journey to discover a musical  land that I call Trans-Danubia. (extending somewhat beyond the contested geographical entity) With both windows down, I would trust my ears in stereo, rather than my nose, to discover the alluring accents and spirited rhythms of the region’s various musical traditions. These might include the emotionally vivid Sevdalinka (*) of the southern Slavs,  the potent women’s chorus wailing from […]