From Bucarest, Jazzanitza and an amazing live album

Jazzanitza is a new generation of ethno-jazz which translates the ancient Balkan groove and the improvisational legacy of the Bulgarian folk giants into the language of current jazz.
The group is led by drummer and composer Borislav Petrov (known for his work with Tinmen & the Telephone) and features some of the most prominent Bulgarian jazz musicians who explore the opportunities of blending Bulgarian folk music and jazz with a new perspective: Dimitar Liolev on saxophone, Ludmil Krumov on guitar and Boris Taslev on bass.
In 2019, Jazzanitza was invited to perform at the Art and Culture Institute of Bucharest (ARCUB), Bucharest, Romania. The group performed the compositions from the debut album (Jazzanitza 2016) in a smaller quartet setting, which gave the music a much more intimate sound, allowing for a more transparent sound and daring improvisations. The music sounded so different from the studio recording that it made sense to release the concert as a live album. Since the Covid19 restrictions in the first part of 2020 obstructed the group from getting together and recording new music, this release offers the familiar listener a fresh take on the tunes from Jazzanitza’s first album. The album is a showcase of both individual musicianship and a playful band communication. Constantly juggling between folk and jazz improvisation, each having its own high demands and challenges, Petrov, Liolev, Krumov and Taslev deliver a strongly rooted and painstakingly crafted ethno-jazz performance.