The relationship between tradition and modern, “good old” times and contemporary approach to music – is the turning point of the whole present and future jazz scene. Is there a golden mean, a ground on which these two seemingly opposed tendencies meet and coexist?

The eleven-piece band of pianist and composer Vladimir Nikolov and drummer Srdjan Ivanović seems to be trying to provide an answer to this question. Two Balkan musicians of the younger generation with respectable foreign careers are the right choice for this kind of experiment. While Nikolov is prominent in his work with world orchestras and ensembles, active on film projects such as Oscar-winning “The Artist”, Ivanović is somewhat more active in smaller formations. The audience knows him as the leader of the band Blazin’ Quartet, presenting the original vision of joining modern European jazz with Balkan influences.

The title of “Artistry in Broken Rhythm” is a homage to the legendary album by Stan Kenton, pointing out Ivanović’s contemporary rhythmic structure as well as the like arrangements and compositions by Nikolov. Instead of the arranged standards that we are accustomed to by traditional Big Bands, this great orchestra brings a fresh and original approach to “old” music.

The orchestra itself is composed of the best musicians of the younger and middle generation from the region. Some of them reside in France, Italy, and Austria, while many connections have occurred during their student days in the Netherlands.

CDs can be ordered at Metropolis Music Online Shop. The album is also available as digital download on Deezer, iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, YouTube (US).