# Live review: Marko Zivandinović and his group at Porgy & Bess, Vienna – Balkan sounds at the International Accordion Festival 2025: Photos

- Link: https://jazzblues.eu/2025/04/23/live-review-marko-zivandinovic-and-his-group-at-porgy-bess-vienna-balkan-sounds-at-the-international-accordion-festival-2025-photos/
- Published: 2025-04-23T00:03:11+01:00
- Author: https://JazzBlues.EU

**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.**

![](https://i0.wp.com/www.jazzreportagen.com/wp-content/uploads/Zivandinovic_Handmade_8681_%
C2%A9_Rainer_Ortag.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)

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.

![](https://i0.wp.com/www.jazzreportagen.com/wp-content/uploads/Zivandinovic_Handmade_8636_%
C2%A9_Rainer_Ortag.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)

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.

![](https://i0.wp.com/www.jazzreportagen.com/wp-content/uploads/Zivandinovic_Handmade_8524_%
C2%A9_Rainer_Ortag.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)

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.

![](https://i0.wp.com/www.jazzreportagen.com/wp-content/uploads/Zivandinovic_Handmade_8642_%
C2%A9_Rainer_Ortag.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)

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.

![](https://i0.wp.com/www.jazzreportagen.com/wp-content/uploads/Zivandinovic_Handmade_8591_%
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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**

![](https://i0.wp.com/www.jazzreportagen.com/wp-content/uploads/Zivandinovic_Handmade_8680_%
C2%A9_Rainer_Ortag.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)

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