Balkan Sounds at the International Accordion Festival – The International Accordion Festival took place in Vienna for the 26th time. Performances took place at various venues over three weeks.
There were not only concerts but also workshops, silent films with live music, premieres, the young Carte Blanche, and much more.
We had the pleasure of experiencing the album presentation of ‘Handmade – Le septième art’ by Marko Živandinović at the Porgy & Bess music club. A truly international quintet. The musicians came from Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, and France.
The accordionist, composer, and arranger Marko Živandinović, who wrote all of his compositions, was born in Serbia in 1979.
He began his musical training in classical and modern music at the age of six. Performances throughout Europe followed, including with Roland Neuwirth & Extremschrammeln, Nenad Vasilić, Alegre Corrêa, and various big bands.
For 20 years, Živandinović has lived in Austria, where he also founded the music school ‘TonOrt,’ where he still teaches.
With ‘Handmade,’ he presents his latest project and his band. They consisted of the young French trumpeter Jean-Baptist Rousseaux, Zoran Šmic on guitar, Hrvoje Kralj on double bass, and, for many years, drummer Philipp Kopmajer.
For 15 years, Živandinović has also been playing regularly with bassist Nenad Vasilić, who made a guest appearance on stage.
With their unique fusion of Balkan sounds and jazz, this band manages to convey all of life’s moods. Whether it’s languishing love songs, ballads that make you dream or cry, or songs that barely keep you in your seat, you want to dance and sing along.
The ‘No problem song’ puts a smile on your face and conveys how beautiful and easy life can be…
So there are songs on the album for every mood, all of which were played that evening… and many more, as the enthusiastic audience applauded and, of course, heard encores.
Marko Živadinović: accordion
Jean-Baptist Rousseaux: trumpet
Zoran Šmic: guitar
Hrvoje Kralj: bass
Philipp Kopmajer: drums
Guest appearance: Nenad Vasilić: Bass
