# CD review: Ivan Ivanov Quartet – Wild Flower 2019: Video, CD cover

- Link: https://jazzblues.eu/2019/07/28/cd-review-ivan-ivanov-quartet-wild-flower-2019-video-cd-cover/
- Published: 2019-07-28T12:24:16+01:00
- Author: https://JazzBlues.EU

**Saxophonist Ivan Ivanov makes his maiden voyage as a leader on Wild Flower, a 
marvelous recording that is steeped in the modern post bop sound. A member of a 
younger generation of jazz artists in Macedonia that have gained musical education
outside the country, Ivanov brings a breath of fresh air with his debut.**

The leader’s deft compositions are what make this CD a rewarding experience. From
the start, there is much excitement in the band’s playing, with Ivanov’s saxophone
igniting fireworks with intensity and vitality throughout. He is joined by a combo
he assembled during his studies at the Conservatory in Graz, Austria.

The compositions, all written by Ivanov, are not simple vamps and riffs, but are
structured in such a way that they don’t take much time to develop. The date kicks
off with the title track, which shows that Ivanov swings and loves melody, but also
has a sense of play and melodic inventiveness. “Swinging JW” is a playful gem, with
double-bassist Joe Abentug and drummer Anđelko Stupar igniting a combustive drive
over which Ivanov and pianist Sava Miletić deliver poignant melodies. “After the
Rain” eases with its quiet moments, where Ivanov’s playing is melodic, reflective,
and filled with a generous spirit. The rhythmic pulse is of central importance on“
Macedonian Wi Fi,” a quicker-paced tune where Stupar delivers some great fills, 
while Miletic contributes to the spontaneous, in-the-moment feel with his pulsating
melodies.

 1. Wild Flower
 2. Swinging JW
 3. For R&B
 4. After The Rain
 5. Macedonian Wi-Fi
 6. Monk’s Notes
 7. Traffic

![Image result for Ivan Ivanov Quartet - Wild Flower](https://i0.wp.com/f4.bcbits.
com/img/a1590391762_10.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)

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