Appearing for their first U.S. tour, BALKANSKY is a life audio-visual art project, a creation of Ivo “Kuker” Christov, that combines traditional Balkan music with jazz elements, electronic sound and vision.
Balkansky jazz-folk trio features Theodisii Spasov, an accomplished, internationally recognized recording artist and performer, a brilliant kaval player, who popularizes the beauty and the cultural uniqueness of Bulgarian folklore and the extraordinary sound of the kaval (eight holes’ wooden flute) as a musical instrument around the world. Mr. Spassov not only is a master of traditional kaval but he has also developed his own unique style of playing the instrument by synthesizing Bulgarian traditional folklore with jazz, fusion and classical music.
Official preview of Бalkansky Art Project.
http://youtu.be/
In April 1995 “Newsweek” magazine recognized Mr. Spassov as one of the most talented Eastern-European musicians, noting that “…He has actually invented a new musical genre”.
Mr. Spassov was honored with several national and international rewards and prizes, such as the Special Prize of Detroit Flute Festival, 1994, The International Academy of Arts in Paris Award, 1996, and the Apollo Toxophoros for sparkling presence in Bulgarian music and his achievements abroad, 2001 to name a few.
Recently he was named by UNESCO Director-General as UNESCO Artist for peace.
BALKANSKY musical project is presented as a live act and it includes music performed by Theodosii Spassov, mixed with unique electronic sounds and beats by Ivan Shopov and interactive musical visuals from Ivo “Kuker” Christov that gives the musical experience a life picture in a jam session of images and music in this unique artistic creation, a combination of contemporary technology and musical expressions.
The jazz-folk trio has a unique style that brings into life ancient tones in a new form understandable for all audiences, creating a bridge between the past and the present.