Bulgarika Balkan Band March 4, 2007

BULGARIKA Balkan Band brings three virtuosic Bulgarian musicians to Anna's Jazz Island for an evening of fiery Balkan music. Donka Koleva (vocals), Nikolay Kolev (gadulka), and Ivan Milev (accordion), all from Bulgaria and now living in New York, will be joined by the rock-solid rhythm section of Bill Lanphier (bass) and Dan Auvil (tupan). Special guest will be jazz drummer Bryan Bowman.

The 'crooked' rhythms and smoky melodies of Bulgarian music masterfully played on traditional instruments, melded with electric bass and jazz drums, will create a musical experience not to be missed.

NIKOLAY KOLEV / GADULKA is from the village Karavelovo in the Rose Valley of Bulgaria. He is an accomplished composer and arranger of folk songs. In 1999 Nikolay was the first Bulgarian to be recognized by the Slavic Heritage Council of America for his outstanding contributions in music.

DONKA KOLEVA / VOICE is a vocalist prized for her rich, clear, and melodic voice. In 1994 Donka started recording with National Radio and Television in Bulgaria. In 1997, her recording of "Javore" was song of the year. Since she moved to the U.S. in 1995, she has performed teaching traditional and arranged songs from Thracian Bulgaria at music camps throughout the U.S. Donka teaches workshops and private lessons across the United States and Canada with well-known singing groups such as "Kitka," "Planina," "Chubritsa," "Mila," and many others.

IVAN MILEV / ACCORDION - Ivan Milev is a landmark of contemporary Balkan folk music. Throughout his 40-plus year career as an accordion player in Bulgaria, he established the rules for Balkan folk music. His style fuses classical, jazz, Eastern European, and Middle Eastern music. His playing can be heard on the soundtrack of "Everything is Illuminated," a widely acclaimed independent movie featuring Elijah Wood and directed by Liev Schreiber. In 2006 Ivan Milev Band recorded its debut album, "The Flight of Krali Marco."

About Bulgarika Balkan Band:
Bulgarika Balkan Band brings three talented Bulgarian musicians to the West Coast, where they are playing concerts for the public and offering lessons to interested students.

$15.

http://www.annasjazzisland.com

Official Website: http://www.lanitahyatt.com/bulgarika