The new programme of the Bulgarian National Radio’s Big Band is called Blues in 9, named after one of the emblematic pieces by Milcho Leviev, the acclaimed doyen of jazz in Bulgaria. Blues in 9 is in the asymmetrical nine-beat meter typical of traditional Bulgarian music.

Jazz pianist and composer Milcho Leviev wrote Blues in 9 in 1963. At the time he was conductor of the BNR Big Band, making a huge contribution to its repertoire by embellishing jazz with Bulgarian folklore elements. He later left Bulgaria, emigrated to USA to join the legendary Don Ellis Orchestra – as jazz trumpet player, drummer, composer and band leader, highly acclaimed for his metro-rhythmic experiments. Now, 50 years on, Blues in 9 is no less of an inspiration to musicians.

The concert of the Big Band in Studio No.1 of the BNR on March 24 presents exclusively Bulgarian works. Here is more from the Big Band’s conductor Antoni Donchev:

“The lineup is of pieces composed especially for the orchestra, the composers are all friends and co-workers. The fact itself that we have such an invaluable repertoire is reason enough to have a concert of works exclusively by Bulgarian authors. I would just like to add that we perform two pieces by each composer. I shall present them in order of precedence: starting with Milcho Leviev and his celebrated piece Blues in 9 and Blues in 10. Then Lyubomir Denev and his Alien – a comparatively new piece as well as Dance, gypsy lady. Eclipse by Angel Zabreski Jr. will have its premiere at the concert. We shall also be playing Vasil Spasov’s Dedication… There is probably no need to go on – I am sure the audience will appreciate the music.”

Over the years, the Big Band of the Bulgarian National Radio has made a name for itself as one of the top big bands in Europe. Its numerous participations in international forums and sound recording work has earned the musicians the recognition of audience and critics. It should not be forgotten that some of the foremost names in jazz of the younger generation play with the BNR Big Band. They are splendid instrumentalists, most are music writers and take part in different side projects. This is true of the band leader, Antoni Donchev who is a renowned jazz pianist and composer.

“The orchestra is in mint form and I am very pleased with my own work and with the work of my colleagues,” he says. “They play the music they love, the music that fascinates them. This is, to my mind, a guarantee of excellence. The BNR Big Band has musicians who are soloists in their own right, nonetheless each of them knows what they are doing in the band. What is, perhaps, the biggest challenge for me is to select works that inspire them and attract audiences. This is my recipe, there can be no other. We have a great many other Bulgarian pieces in our plans, we shall continue this line in our concert programmes. We are an orchestra of the Bulgarian National Radio and it is our duty and responsibility to popularize the achievements of Bulgarian jazz composers. Yet there are so many composers whose works are worthy of the repertoire of any world-class orchestra. I can guarantee it. We may invite fans to one more concert with an incredible programme of Bulgarian works. I called it “The Bulgarian connection in Don Ellis’ music” with soloist, an amazing virtuoso trumpet player from Austria Thomas Gansch. Even before inviting Milcho Leviev to play with his orchestra, Don Ellis had an interest in traditional Bulgarian music and the wealth of its metro-rhythm.”

The audio contains the following performances:

- Blues in 9 by Milcho Leviev, performed by the Big Band of the BNR, conductor Milcho Leviev;

- Alien by Lyubomir Denev, performed by the Big Band of the BNR, conductor Antoni Donchev;

- Dedication by Vasil Spasov, performed by Vasil Spasov with Dimitar Lyolev – saxophone and Dimitar Karamfilov – double bass.

English version: Milena Daynova