MUSIC REVIEW BY Tom Greenland, New York City Jazz Record
Bulgarian vibraphonist Errol Rackipov, a mentee of Burton, recorded Distant Dreams, his second album, with the assistance of saxophonists David Leon and Lubomir Gospodinov, pianist Martin Bejerano, bassist
Peter Slavov and drummer Ludwig Afonso. The Bulgarian influence is present in the personnel (Rackipov, Gospodinov and Slavov all hail from Sofia), song titles ("Shopeto in NY", "Miami - Sofia (via Havana)", "Bosphorus", "Todora (to Dobri Paliev)") and melodies and rhythms, which draw on Eastern European folk musics. On "The Dream of the Little Gypsy", the 18-beat meter is tricky yet still danceable while "Shopeto in NY" has a Middle Eastern flavor. Improvising chores are mostly handled by Rackipov, Bejerano and the amazingly dexterous Slavov, solos generally restricted to a chorus or two to keep focus on the leader's durable compositions.
Peter Slavov and drummer Ludwig Afonso. The Bulgarian influence is present in the personnel (Rackipov, Gospodinov and Slavov all hail from Sofia), song titles ("Shopeto in NY", "Miami - Sofia (via Havana)", "Bosphorus", "Todora (to Dobri Paliev)") and melodies and rhythms, which draw on Eastern European folk musics. On "The Dream of the Little Gypsy", the 18-beat meter is tricky yet still danceable while "Shopeto in NY" has a Middle Eastern flavor. Improvising chores are mostly handled by Rackipov, Bejerano and the amazingly dexterous Slavov, solos generally restricted to a chorus or two to keep focus on the leader's durable compositions.
Soundclips
Other Reviews of
"Distant Dreams":
Muszeroldal (Budapest) by Rudolf Radnai
Improvijazzation by Dick Metcalf
Radio Bulgaria by Lyudmil Fotev
Midwest Record by Chris Spector
WTJU, Richmond by Dave Rogers
KNKX - Seattle by Abe Beeson