Search - Dusko Goykovich :: Balkan Connection

Relatively Unknown......Definitely Underrated Trumpet Player

Robert J. Ament | Ballwin, MO United States | 02/26/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Apparently Dusko is well known in Europe. I remember hearing good things about him when he was with Woody Herman briefly in the early '60s. Maybe that will change a lot since he started recording with the Enja label. This was recorded in 1995 but I didn't come across my copy until 2000. Probably no one will read this since the sales ranking is 500K plus, more attributable I believe to the lack of exposure than to the man's talents.



There are only two standards on this cd, the other eight are all originals by Dusko; the whole album arranged by him which testifies as to his compositional and arranging skills undoubtedly a result of his studies at the prestigious Berklee School of Music.



Although this is a big band album, the most striking thing about Dusko's playing was on the two standards and the final selection where he showed a lot of resembance to Miles Davis.....and I don't think it was just because he was using a Harmon mute.



The opener, "Doboy", had a slightly Spanish tinge and reminds me of some of the music I've heard by Gerald Wilson. This also featured some fine piano by Peter Michelich who also turned in some good work on "Balkan Blue" and displays some funkiness on a soul jazz type of blues, "A Handful O'Soul". "The Bopper" more than likely reflects the time Dusko spent in this country. "Manhattan Mood" is a relaxed big band ballad spotlighting some exceptionally smooth tenor sax by Gianni Basso.



There's a nice quote starting Dusko's solo on "Balkan Blue", attributed by the liner notes to Gershwin, actually taken from Cole Porter's "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To". "Nights Of Skopje" is a sort of jazz waltz while "Why Not You" is another ballad incorporating a nice blend of instruments giving avery fat sound and providing a good background to another fine tenor saxist, Tony Lakatos.



This is a very listenable album, a lot different from big band charts we normally hear. It was interesting enough that I've since acquired two more of his cds which are small group....and even better! I intend to review those in the near future."