Jovan Maljokovic Ensemble-The Uplifting Abyss LP (Everlandm Pre-Order May 20)

From the label:

* Previously unreleased Jazz-Funk LP from 70’s Yugoslavia
* Crazy grooves, breaks, samples and smooth arrangements
* Missing piece of Eastern Bloc Jazz history
* Straight from the master tapes buried in the vaults of Radio Belgrade

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 (Željko Kerleta), Jovan Maljoković 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 Sećanja by Miša 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 crème de la crème of jazz and funk instrumentalists of Yugoslavian Jazz (Goce Dimitrovski, Miloš Krstić, Kire Mitrev, Miodrag Maljoković, Aleksandar Sanja Ilić, Miša Blam, Uroš Šećerov…). 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 Naviše with a whirlwind of big band arrangement turnovers or track B1- Uspomena (hint: Sećanje…) 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. Smeđi Šećer

Tracklist:

A1 Ponor Naviše = Uplifting Abyss
Composed By, Arranged By – Jovan Maljoković
6:52
A2 Prolećna Groznica = Spring Fever
Composed By, Arranged By – Jovan Maljoković
4:11
A3 Hej Krčmarice = Hey Waitress Mama
Arranged By – Jovan Maljoković
Composed By – Radoslav Graić
2:57
A4 Blue Kum = Blue Best Man
Composed By, Arranged By – Miloš Krstić
4:25
A5 Dan Za Danom = Day By Day
Composed By, Arranged By – Jovan Maljoković
2:40
B1 Uspomena = Memento
Arranged By – Jovan Maljoković
Composed By – Eberhard Weber
4:14
B2 Ne Dolaziš Više U Moju Ulicu - You Don't Come By My Street No More
Composed By, Arranged By – Jovan Maljoković
4:12
B3 Moja Soba = My Room
Composed By, Arranged By – Jovan Maljoković
3:16
B4 Sećanje Na Prošlo Leto = Remembering Last Summer
Composed By, Arranged By – Jovan Maljoković
2:57
B5 Balada = Ballad
Composed By, Arranged By – Miloš Krstić