Maljokovic, Jovan Ensemble Uplifting Abyss LP Vinyl

What would you do if a never before released jazz funk album from 70s Yugoslavia had dropped suddenly into your arms? An album which sounds like a crate diggers holy grail!? Album full of heavy drum breaks, repetitive bass grooves, superb sax solos and world class jazz arrangements finely intertwined with Yugoslavian folk music elements?! - "PRESS IT!" - That's what we said always striving to present the future of unheard sound of Yugoslavia! With the help from Mr. Cosmic himself (Äeljko Kerleta), Jovan Maljokovic and his wife Nevenka and, of course, Radio Belgrade who provided the recordings buried deep in their library, here we present Jovan's first vinyl release since 1989 and his album nr. Zero. If this LP was released in 1976, sounding this clear and impressive as it sounds today, it would be up on the pedestal with cult Yugo jazz-funk releases such as Secanja by MiÜa Blam (also released on Everland) - and believe me - it would burn a whole through your wallet. Don't allow me to get started on the Jovan's ensemble personnel here, represening the cr?me de la cr?me of jazz and funk instrumentalists of Yugoslavian Jazz (Goce Dimitrovski, MiloÜ Krstic, Kire Mitrev, Miodrag Maljokovic, Aleksandar Sanja Ilic, MiÜa Blam, UroÜ èecerov...). The raw execution, top recording and compositions resembling but not imitating the greatest contemporary western jazz-funk ides of the time, that sound like something that could have been easily released on Mainstream, Columbia, MPS or even be an authentic Kudu hit record if it had been released at the time by Creed Taylor. Just listen to the track A1 Ponor NaviÜe with a whirlwind of big band arrangement turnovers or track B1- Uspomena (hint: Secanje...) where Jovan takes on the 'Lame donkey' in a strong downbeat rearrangement released just two years after Volker Kriegel published it on his album Lift! (MPS/BASF 1973.). You'll be blown away by the instrumental prowess of the ensemble and Jovan's ideas! - Dr. Smedi èecer

1. Ponor naviše – Uplifting Abyss 2. Prolecna groznica – Spring Fever 3. Hej krcmarice – Hey Waitress Mama 4. Blue kum – Blue Best Man 5. Dan za danom – Day By Day 6. Uspomena - Memento 7. Ne dolaziš više u moju ulicu – You Don’t Come by My Street No More 8. Moja soba – My Room 9. Secanje na prošlo leto – Remembering Last Summer 10. Balada - Ballad1. Ponor naviše – Uplifting Abyss 11. Prolecna groznica – Spring Fever 12. Hej krcmarice – Hey Waitress Mama 13. Blue kum – Blue Best Man 14. Dan za danom – Day By Day 15. Uspomena - Memento 16. Ne dolaziš više u moju ulicu – You Don’t Come by My Street No More 17. Moja soba – My Room 18. Secanje na prošlo leto – Remembering Last Summer 19. Balada - Ballad