With music from the new album of Acoustic Version entitled "Time in Time Out" we mark three decades since the creation of the jazz formation. All performances by Antoni Donchev - piano, Hristo Yotzov – drums, and Georgi Donchev - bass in the recent months have been dedicated to the anniversary. Hristo Yotzov who brings us more about the roots of the band. Friends of Bulgarian culture in Canada will surely be pleased to learn about the tour dates of "Acoustic Version" during the sixth edition of Bulgarian Arts Festival 

http://www.bulgarianartsfestival.com/. This is the first participation of the trio in the prestigious forum. The musicians play in three consecutive days – on April 22 during a pre-festival concert in Montreal, in Ottawa on 23 of April and in Toronto on April 24.

Let us recall that the Bulgarian Arts Festival in Canada presents the works of contemporary Bulgarian musicians, actors, artists, folk and classical orchestras and others. It is held in two cities - Toronto and Ottawa. This year the event is dedicated to the 50th anniversary since establishment of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and Canada and 40 years since opening of a Bulgarian consulate in Toronto.

"It is a nice thing that the festival has already gone beyond the boundaries of the big Bulgarian community in Canada,” Hristo Yotzov says. “Events included in the festival have been getting more popular among the Canadian public and have attracted the attention of critics. Usually the festival’s program includes jazz concerts, exhibitions, theatre plays and performances of ensembles that keep Bulgarian traditions alive overseas. Even before the establishment of this forum, a number of concerts of Bulgarian musicians used to be organized in Canada. I had had the pleasure to play there in a trio together with Theodosius Spasov – kaval, and Rumen Toskov - piano. Three years ago, I received an invitation from the festival along with jazz singer Yildiz Ibrahimova, Zhivko Petrov – piano, and Veselin Veselinov - bass. In upcoming concerts of the Acoustic Version we combine presenting our new album with the celebration of our 30th anniversary."

Antoni Donchev and Hristo Yotzov are hereditary musicians. Their friendship dates back to years before the creation of "Acoustic Version." Both received serious training in classical music but at the time they were students at the National School of Music they choose to devote themselves to jazz.

"The real beginning of the band was in 1985, says Hristo Yotzov. Then we won awards in two major jazz forums – in Hoeilaart, Belgium and in Leverkusen in Germany. That was when our careers started. We founded "Acoustic Version" first with Antoni, then in 1989 his brother Georgi Donchev also joined. Later he went to study at Berkeley; there were changes in the band but now Georgi is back with us. All pieces in the album have been created over the last two years and are part of our concert repertoire. I have always been deeply convinced that despite the years that pass and the influences, the style of Acoustic Version remains a trademark. This album is a continuation of everything that we set at the very beginning. For us "Acoustic Version" is fate. Whenever our musical worlds meet on stage the place changes and it seems we are back to the same point. We always return to a place that is ours and this creates exceptional comfort and something that is very important - balance in the variety of our performances alongside various other projects. Our unity on stage is mystical. On the other hand it is quite understandable –we have been together for so many years. There is no need to talk and music becomes the only form of communication."

During upcoming concerts during the Bulgarian Arts Festival in Canada musicians will present several new pieces along with those from their new album.

English: Alexander Markov

The audio features the following tracks:

.  A Foggy Mood

. Apollonia

.  Time in Time out