Native Son

A deeply affecting project that runs the gamut from the churning percussion-fueled title track to tender ballads, a slamming funk laden number in seven, and spirited tributes to masters Nana Vasconcelos and Elvin Jones.
Bill Milkowski

Well known throughout Europe for decades, the virtuoso Serbian pianist Vasil Hadžimanov only became known to drummer Michael Waldrop while performing in a Belgrade club that Waldrop dropped in on during one of his yearly visits with in-laws. Later, stuck in his Pacific Northwest home during the pandemic, Waldrop thought to include Vasil in a remote recording session of his tune "Belgrade," which he had composed in 2001, reflecting the feelings of his first exposure to the city. Thrilled with the outcome, they eventually met in a Belgrade studio in 2024, joining with the equally inspired Macedonian bassist Martin Gjakonovski, to record this set of Waldrop originals as a trio. Waldrop then enlisted Brad Dutz and Jose Rossy to enhance the proceedings with an array of Afro-Cuban and Middle Eastern percussion instruments. Running the gamut from the churning percussion-fueled title track to tender ballads, and spirited tributes to masters Nana Vasconcelos and Elvin Jones, Native Son is another vibrant offering from Waldrop's growing catalog of ambitious releases.

Production Info:

Produced by Michael Waldrop & Tim Reppert
Recorded by Danijel Vuković at Future Nature Sound,
Pančevo, Serbia, on August 14-16, 2024
Percussion recorded by Jimi Tunnell
at Buffalo Sound, Denton, TX
and Brad Dutz, Kelso, WA
Mixed by Tim Reppert, Dorchester, MA
Mastered by Scott Kinsey, Los Angeles, CA
Liner notes by Bill Milkowski
Front photo by Mikkel Kvist
Artist photos by Jordan Lewis (dr),
Marko Vulevic (pno), Gerhard Richter (bs)
Cover design & layout by John Bishop