Boban I Marko Balkan Brass Fest

AMG Review of Boban I Marko Balkan Brass Fest

Chris Nickson
All Music Guide

Boban Markovic and his band are, quite simply, the best of the Balkan rass bands. They can negotiate hairpin turns in arrangements and a frantic pace, and give the listener a shock of adrenaline with their playing. As always, the playing is exemplary throughout, but one of the purposes of this disc is to introduce Markovic's son, 15-year-old Marko, who proves to be a trumpet sensation like his father. Not as polished, and not completely up to his speed, but still remarkable. The music itself is definitely a mixed bag, like the Latin "Sanja Samba," which offers an aerobic workout whose roots might be in Brazil but whose heart runs a marathon. There's even a venture in Bollywood with A.R. Rahman's "Mere Yaara Dildara," which ends up reflected through a Balkan prism. However, much of the material is homegrown, and quite splendid -- the trumpet dialogues between father and son are a standout, as is their unison work. Once again Markovic hits the jackpot and proves his quality.