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Some of the finest trombonists in France comprise
the superb Paris L’Ensemble de Trombones de Paris and on this album they
perform intriguing pieces by Janko Nilovic, a Yugoslavian-French composer who
has written more than a thousand works. The two featured here are his Double
Concerto (for seven trombones) and Suite Balkanique (for seven trombones and
four percussion). The music has a distinctly Slavic and Balkan flavour with
exciting rhythmic and catchy dance melodies.
www.new-classics.co.uk
The Mood Mosaic Vol
8: "The New Shapes of Sound"
More Wacky and Wild Swinging Music From The School of all things Funky!!
Includes Music from:
Little Ed, Tony Newman, Mohawks, Michel Legrand, Janko Nilovic, Dave Grusin and
many more!!!!
Austin Powers Approved!
www.footlight.com
Roses and Revolvers performed by Janko Nilovic
Janko Nilovic deserves attention. He composed a huge volume of library music in
the 1960s and 70s, and what I've heard of his work has all been excellent. Some
of it has recently been made available on CD by the Cosmic Sounds label,
who are also releasing new work by him. It's hard to sum up his work, because
it was quite diverse. From what I've heard, Nilovic was like a jazzier, more
wild version of other contemporary library composers like Roger Roger and Nino
Nardini.
This is a wonderful instrumental that opens with a bare breakbeat. This is soon
joined by bass and electric guitar, which then give way to a Morricone-style
harpsichord, which riffs over a descending minor chord sequence. The whole
thing remains funky and slightly menacing as different parts drop in and out.
The whole piece is really just a simple jam, but the impeccable arrangement
takes it to a higher level.
www.musicaltaste.com
Janko Nilovic 'Psych Impressions'
I only found out about Janko Nilovic a few months ago,
and now I am completly gone on the fella…he's a flippin' hero! This is the
latest of several albums originally found on the French Montparnasse 2000
library label that have recently been issued once more in their entirety, and
if you think about just how many library albums there are out there that
actually provide quality listening with every cut you'd be hard pressed to come
up with a very long list; the usual story (if you're lucky!) is a couple of
smashers and then lots of so-so filler or even downright terrible nonsense.
Well, such was this chap's genius that he kicks ass pretty much from start to
finish, give or take the couple of military-themed cuts on side one that are
readily skipable.
Compared to his other
masterstroke 'Rythmes Contemporains' this one is much more stripped
down-largely being compositions for a small combo with added brass, rather than
grand orchestral funk statements. There is still much drama here though, as
themes build and evolve and the band wigs out in grand style. For me the most
enjoyable tracks are those where the emphasis is on the heavy groove, rather
than the lighter numbers, fine as tracks like 'Ballad for a Horse' and 'Sunder
Fire' are. The amount of sheer power and energy built into both side openers
'Rush on the Ball' and 'Shaking Pop' is immense; heavy, beaty psych at its
finest-the guitar riffing is phenomenal, and whoever the bass player is on this
session, he deserves a medal for supplying some of the most fluid and
imaginative playing you'll hear anywhere…oh, and of course it's a beat-mine for
anyone who's interest that captures, but honestly, there is so much more than
that on offer here; tracks like the flute & piano drive of 'Concerto for a
Star' are simply amazing. Put simply, the more I hear from this chap, the more
I want to discover…can't say fairer than that!
vinylvulture.co.uk
Soul Impressions / Chorus Pulp Flavor/Dare-Dare
Slavic jazz funk library musician Janko Nilovic sure knows
how to open a set with a bang. Put on Soul Impressions and one is confronted
with the meanest, nastiest wah-wah guitar outside of a Miles Davis recording
circa '72. "Hippocampus" sounds like f***ing Black Sabbath! Then, as
if it hadn't happened, "Open Country" chimes in with acoustic guitars
played in a friendly lively fashion as flutes blow above and bass gurgles below.
You went from hell to heaven -- just like that. Then, "Crazy
Enterprise" takes you down to earth -- to the grimy city streets, where
danger lurks and opportunity knocks. A tough beat propels you forward in
circumstances beyond your control. If there's one thing you can say about
Janko, it's that he's terribly (and wonderfully) versatile in his approach to
funky jazz rock folk psychedelia. Soul Impressions is certainly a great
showcase for it.On Chorus you get more Janko magic, but -- as the title
suggests -- this one features wordless female and male vocals. Depending on
one's taste or tolerance for wall-to-wall "la-la-las," it may prove a
tad too precious in all its flower child glory.
Still, Chorus never gets too cheesy and the arrangements are
funky and often times hard driving, even if they occasionally sound like
out-takes from Godspell or Hair.
www.scorebaby.com
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