Tania Lukic-Marx now gives the CD reviews a rating
system. This system includes a number of stars at the completion
of the review, for example 5 stars (*****) means the CD was "brilliant"
or "excellent", 4 stars = impressive, 3 stars = good,
2 stars = satisfactory and 1 star = didn't impress.
|
This is one of the recordings where the accordion is not the main instrument
but is an equal part of the ensemble (trio), consisting of Jacek Grekow
(accordion, bagpipe & kaval), Jan Mlejnek (clarinet & tambura) and
Bartosz Mlejnek (double bass). Jacek was born in Bialystok (Poland) and
graduated at the Vienna Conservatory. Jan and Bartosz are also Polish and
are students of the Music Academy "F. Chopin" in Warsaw.
Thematically, this recording is based on folk melodies and rhythms of the
south Balkans: Macedonia and Bulgaria. The use of authentic instruments
and vocals also contributes to the originality of the music and the region
it comes from.
After hearing this recording, I was totally fascinated with the ability
of the musicians to bring the genre of traditional folk music to the form
of sophisticated concert performance. It takes musicians of a high professionalism
to be able to do that. All the musicians appearing on this recording are
that - professionals in what they do. Their professionalism covers all the
areas of this recording, beginning with the choice of the pieces, marvellous
arrangements, superior performance, excellent sound quality and engineering,
and ending with the very good quality and design of the CD cover.
I found it quite amazing how this ensemble brought to the concert stage
the genre of the traditional folk, making it a 12 track musical story, appealing
to anybody regardless of their musical background.
LOVE WHAT THEY ARE DOING! ***** |