NICOLAS SIMION — Transylvanian Jazz (review)

NICOLAS SIMION — Transylvanian Jazz album cover Album · 2009 · Post Bop Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
snobb
Nicolas Simion is one of leading Romanian jazz musician for last two decades.He played with Tomasz Stanko and Dusko Goykovich and is known by his love to Romanian folklore.

This album is based on very careful interpretations of Transylvanian folk songs in a key of post-bop. Recording's sound is crystal clear, every instrument sounds very airy and atmosphere of Eastern Balkan rural region is as authentic as it's possible (if played by jazz band,not folk capella).

Big advantage of this recording is its folklore component. During last almost three decades Balkan sound's trademark all around the world became Gypsies street orchestras' brassy primitive but paprika-hot music with dance-able rhythms , often melted with Turkish trad tunes. What is far not real Balkan folklore, in fact till late 80s it was almost impossible to find all that Gypsy-turbo-folk nowhere around all Balkans. Situation is fully opposite now all around Western Balkans, possibly Eastern Balkans still saved some authentic folk sound though.

Nicolas uses authentic folklore elements very carefully, many compositions sound somewhere in between of post-bop and ethno folk. Not strange - one of supporters of this release was Romanian Cultural Institute, and obviously one of recording target was to save and promote Transylvanian folklore. But such concept has its other side - being tasteful and really attractive ethno jazz release, this album sounds too conservative,even a bit old-fashioned looking from jazz listener position.

In all really quality and interesting release for those interested in ethno jazz or world fusion, but with quite limited attractiveness for jazz purists.
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