Jazz Orkestar Radio -Televizije Beograd (1948-1978)

Ce double album a été édité en 1978 à l'occasion du trentenaire du RTB Big Band, orchestre radiophonique yougoslave de renommée internationale, qui avait obtenu en 1968 le premier prix du festival de Juan-les-Pins.
Un titre quelconque, une formation sage sur une scène qui nous paraît bien ringarde aujourd'hui. Et pourtant quel disque ! Exceptionnel d'équilibre entre l'élégance des solos, la pulsation groove et l'énergie multi-instrumentiste du big band.
La pochette signale discrètement ses "guests" : rien moins que Dusko Gojkovic, Alan Skidmore, Gerd Dudek et Bora Rokovic, pointures du jazz est européen de l'époque, dont le premier est devenu une star de la trompette, après son passage remarqué au sein du Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland Big Band.
Il faut rendre hommage à l'excellent label Cosmic sounds, grand défricheur des perles de jazz intriquées dans le rideau de fer, d'avoir réédité - pour notre plus grand bonheur - ce double LP dont le pressage d'époque se négocie à prix fort.

Side A:
1. Pauk (Zvonimir Skerl) 8'46
2. Kolo (Franja Jenc) 5'05
3. Prolecna Etida (Georgi Dimitrovski) 6'22

Side B:
1. Svadbena Igra Kraj Bistrice (Vojislav Simic) 7'12
2. Krug (Predrag Krstic) 7'07
3. Si Zaljubljiv Edno Mome (Georgi Dimitrovski) 4'22

Side C:
1. Macka (Zvonimir Skerl) 11'45
2. Atlantis (Bora Rokovic) 5'52

Side D:
1. Balkan Ekspres (Franja Janc) 7'00
2. Vilenjak i Vila (Vojislav Simic) 6'00
3. Aretuza (Bora Rokovic) 5'50

Originally released in 1978. Comes in a gatefold carton sleeve with original artwork and insert in English. The RTB BIG BAND was formed in 1948 and immediately started gaining an international reputation. In 1960 they won the 1st prize at Juan-Les Pins Jazz Festival.
In 1978 RTB Big Band celebrated the 30th anniversary by releasing this double album consisted of recent works recorded from March 73 - February 77. The title wasn't as imaginative as the music itself and it was just called 1948-1978 that was a bit misleading for the contest of the album. It had a small inscription at the back of the cover saying "With Guests" so also it might be known under this name as well. Guests in this case on some of the recordings were Dusko Gojkovic, Alan Skidmore, Gerd Dudek, Bora Rokovic.
The well known track "Balkan Express" was released couple years ago on Yugoslavian Rare Gems compilation (CS-13) and was later on remixed by Panoptikum guys (Tom Wieland & Mark Frank). The track made the original record sought after and quite expensive but very few really had a chance to actually hear the whole album because it's quite rare and expensive. Once they find the album and pay a pile of money for it they get pleasantly surprised. This double LP is much more then Balkan Express. It is fully packed with a top quality big band jazz fusion. Every track is a winner.