Guitar, accordion and Bulgarian gadulka is an idea for an unconventional trio, which with its heartfelt approach to music creates an interesting set of melodies with surprising, stylistic formats.
In the music of the Grekow/Peev/Tsvyatkov Trio there are a lot of folk moods,
traditions of Balkan music, references to the classics, but there are also elements of jazz.
Perhaps such an approach to the artistic material is the result of the musicians' artistic experience,
or maybe it's just a beautiful and emotional desire to play "what's in the soul". And on an extraordinary, ethno-jazz level!
The finesse and freedom of performance, as well as certain structural elements of this music,
and finally the moods that the album evokes allow for associations with classical music,
contemporary chamber music and echoes of jazz. If I hesitate to call the great music of the trio ethno-jazz,
it is only for fear that it will not be a label limiting its multicolor and - with all its formal qualities
- also a kind of joy, unpretentiousness, lyricism and naturalness at the same time.
(...) Contact with the band's music is an undoubted pleasure - and on many levels.
From the simplest aesthetic feeling that we are listening to music well played and produced,
with a bright, warm sound, friendly to the listener, to construction, performance and arrangement meanders that
have the right to interest and satisfy lovers of sophisticated music and performed sensationally in terms of technique. Great album!
The Polish accordionist Jacek Grekow, who also tried his luck in Vienna three decades ago, but has long since matured back in his homeland and internationally to become one of the most distinguished musicians of the so-called "world music",
this Jacek Grekow lays with his new album "Balkan Grooves " a work so much more delicate and complex than its nonetheless apt title.
Something demanding is always to be expected from accordionists Jacek Grekow, and at the same time deeply musically. I am happy about every his new project.
From the very first bars, your heart will not only open because of the incredibly friendly atmosphere of the piece, but it will also immediately become clear: the Polish-Bulgarian trio are absolute experts at work.
(...) The music is both intimate and powerful. An album that you would love to listen to in a cozy summer garden somewhere in the south.
One of the most interesting folk and folk-related albums in recent months
Drawing from Balkan music, classical and jazz, TRIO Grekow / Peev / Tsvyatkov has created a completely new sound aesthetic that is really hard to resist.
"Balkan Grooves" is an excellent album for the beginning of 2023, and at the same time
an album that is one of the most interesting folk and folk-related albums in recent months.
Trio Grekow-Peev-Tsvyatkov features three musicians who come to this project having each made a name for themselves in numerous other collaborations. Accordionist Jacek Grekow is Polish but has long been interested in Balkan music; Peyo Peev is already a renowned exponent of the gadulka, the bowed instrument from his native country Bulgaria, and guitarist Hristiyan Tsvyatkov, also from Bulgaria, has played internationally with various ensembles. They have now come together to produce the trio album Balkan Grooves, and it certainly makes for an interesting listen.
