Oriental brass bands are a Gypsy specialty throughout the Balkan region, from Serbia to Macedonia. These brass bands were created in the 19th century, in imitation of Turkish military brass bands which had replaced the traditional ensembles based on oboesand drums.
The sound of Oriental brass bands was introduced to larger parts of the Western public by the soundtrack of Emir Kusturica's film 'Underground'. Trumpet player NAAT VELIOV'S KOCANIORKESTAR comes from the city of Kocani, in the new Republic Of Macedonia (ex-Yugoslavia). Performed by two trumpets, three tubas, saxophone, clarinet, zurla (traditional oboe) and percussion,their style of music is aptly described in their region as Romska Orientalna Musika - 'Rom' meaning 'Gypsy'. It is a potent mixture of powerful brass band sounds, Turkish/Bulgarian rhythms (including characteristic asymetrical time signatures such as 7/8,9/8 etc., which are sometimes called 'Aksak' in traditional Turkish music), and Eastern-style solos which are at the same time very skilful, inspired and wild. The material, which is very creatively arranged by band-leader NAAT VELIOV, comes from a variety of sources: traditional dance music from Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Turkey, elements of rumba and salsa, and even Indian film music. As for this album's title-track ('The Orient Is Red'), itis based on a famous Communist Chinese song which had apparently achieved pop hit status in Yugoslavia during the Tito era...