(Serbia)

Listen to! Real Audio - Hansko Svitanje (Dawn at Vladicin Han)
Real Audio - Meksikanka (Mexican Girl)

The Promise
Boban Markovic, the King of Gypsy brass bands, returns with a new album of original material accompanied by his son Marko, a 17-year old trumpet-blowing prodigy. Leading their orkestar from Vladicin Han in Serbia’s deep south, the Markovic’s music reflects the many sources that have shaped the Balkans and the Gypsies’ journey. Here the ancient meets the post-modern, blending everything to create an eerie, intuitive music. This original PIRANHA recording is produced by Ben Mandelson & Rob Keyloch.


Reviews




"In that spirit, Mr. Markovic's newest album, "The Promise," features his typically kaleidoscopic takes on standard coceks (stomping Gypsy dance tunes), but also dips into the Latin American brass band tradition with "Latino" and "Voz," songs that wouldn't sound out of place on the set list of a Mexican banda. Which makes perfect sense considering that the Mexican brass style — one of the most commercially dominant genres in that country's music industry — was initially inspired by the Franco-Austrian military bands that reached Mexico through the coastal hub of Mazatlán in the 1800's."
New York Times, April 2006

"In which the most invigorating Balkan brass I know becomes a tad neater under the watchful production of Meddlin' Ben Mandelson. The general air of woofled hilarity continues. But in a slack-wire music of crooked harmonies, naturally occurring dub, and unisons that are no such thing, virtuosity is best deployed in the vicinity of a near miss, and there aren't quite enough of those here."
Village Voice, May 2006

"Boban Markovic, his orchestra, and once again, his trumpeter son Marko move from Vladicin Han in Serbia's deep south through the various Balkans and the Gypsy roots that have been their mainstay. Ancient meets the post-modern in a decidedly different recording produced by Ben Mandelson and Rob Keyloch."
CD Roots

The Promise

Boban Markovic, the King of Gypsy brass bands, returns with a new album of original material accompanied by his son Marko, a 17-year old trumpet-blowing prodigy. Leading their orkestar from Vladicin Han in Serbia’s deep south, the Markovic’s music reflects the many sources that have shaped the Balkans and the Gypsies’ journey. Here the ancient meets the post-modern, blending everything to create an eerie, intuitive music. This original PIRANHA recording is produced by Ben Mandelson & Rob Keyloch.





Reviews









"In that spirit, Mr. Markovic's newest album, "The Promise," features his typically kaleidoscopic takes on standard coceks (stomping Gypsy dance tunes), but also dips into the Latin American brass band tradition with "Latino" and "Voz," songs that wouldn't sound out of place on the set list of a Mexican banda. Which makes perfect sense considering that the Mexican brass style — one of the most commercially dominant genres in that country's music industry — was initially inspired by the Franco-Austrian military bands that reached Mexico through the coastal hub of Mazatlán in the 1800's."

New York Times, April 2006



"In which the most invigorating Balkan brass I know becomes a tad neater under the watchful production of Meddlin' Ben Mandelson. The general air of woofled hilarity continues. But in a slack-wire music of crooked harmonies, naturally occurring dub, and unisons that are no such thing, virtuosity is best deployed in the vicinity of a near miss, and there aren't quite enough of those here."

Village Voice, May 2006



"Boban Markovic, his orchestra, and once again, his trumpeter son Marko move from Vladicin Han in Serbia's deep south through the various Balkans and the Gypsy roots that have been their mainstay. .......
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