EMIL TASEV QUARTET - Jazz Club "In Jazz"

EMIL TASEV QUARTET:

Emil Tasev - drums

Steve Hamilton - piano

Vladimir Karparov - saxophone

Veselin "Eko" Veselinov 

 

The quartet was founded in 2021 by Emil Tasev, and its lineup includes some of the most prominent Bulgarian and international jazz musicians.

The program features original jazz music by Emil Tasev, Steve Hamilton, Veselin "Eko" Veselinov and Vladimir Karparov. Special attention will be given to a piece by the great pianist and composer Vasil Parmakov.

 

 

Emil Tasev:

Emil was born in Sofia. He graduated from the State Academy of Music in Sofia with a Bachelor's degree in percussion instruments in 2001. With the group Akaga, he recorded the album When You See. He has been part of Vili Kazasyan's big band as a percussionist and drummer. Emil has performed with jazz musicians such as Ventsislav Blagoev, Petar Momchev, Dimitar Karafilov, Shibil Benev, Rosen Zahariev, Arnau Garrofe, Dimitar Lyolev, as well as with the iconic fusion group Zona C. He has participated in some of the biggest jazz festivals in Bulgaria and Europe, such as Bansko Jazz Fest, Montreux Jazz Fest, Nisville Jazz Fest, and North Sea Jazz Fest.

Additionally, Emil has been part of the trio of Scottish jazz pianist Steve Hamilton (who has collaborated with the globally renowned drummers Bill Bruford, Billy Cobham, and many others).

 

 

Steve Hamilton:

Born in Aberdeen, Steve grew up in a musical family with his father Laurie a constant source of inspiration and invaluable musical information. After much encouragement and tuition/musical guidance from Tommy Smith, Steve applied for and won a scholarship to study Jazz Performance at Berklee College of Music in Boston, USA – a substantial portion of Steve’s study costs were very generously sponsored by rock icon Phil Collins.

Steve graduated in 1995 and spent the next five years in London where he became a long-standing member of legendary drummer Bill Bruford’s internationally acclaimed jazz quartet, “Earthworks” repeatedly toured over twenty countries during five years, releasing 3 studio albums and a live DVD on Discipline records.

Since 1995 he has performed/recorded with notable musicians including Freddie Hubbard, Ray Charles, Pee Wee Ellis Assembly, Joe Lovano, Kurt Elling, Fred Wesley, Bob Sheppard, John Scofield, Gary Burton, Joe Locke, Van Morrison, Dennis Rollins, Martin Taylor, Carol Kidd, and The NDR Big Band and has appeared on over 40 CDs to date.

Steve recently joined the legendary drummer Billy Cobham’s band and has been touring with Billy throughout Europe.

 

 

Vladimir Karparov:

Born on January 6, 1977 in Sofia. Shortly after the changes in 1989, while still studying at the 9th French Language High School "Alphonse de Lamartine", he began performing as a street musician in Sofia, thus developing his improvisational abilities and deepening his passion for music. In 1995-99 he studied at the "Pancho Vladigerov" Music Academy. Later, with a scholarship from the Oscar und Vera Ritter-Stiftung Foundation, he went to continue his musical education in Hamburg.

In 2001, attracted by the multicultural music scene in Berlin, he settled in the German capital, where in 2005 he graduated from the "Hans Eisler" Music Conservatory.

In 2008 he released his debut album Thracian Dance, and in 2009 created his second project – the saxophone quartet “Forcolor”. He actively plays music, both with his own projects and with a number of other musical formations, combining modern jazz and Bulgarian folklore in his performances and compositions.

He has played with musicians Jiggs Whigham, Gerard Presencer, Ivo Papazov, Teodosi Spasov, Milcho Leviev, Kenny Wheeler, John Hollenbeck, Gebhard Ullmann, Peter Herbolzheimer, Martin Lyubenov, Stoyan Yankulov and many others. He has participated in a number of music festivals in Europe, Asia and Latin America.

 

Awards

1996 – “Best Young Jazz Performer of the Year” by the Soros Foundation Bulgaria.

1999 – Third Prize at the International Jazz Competition in Monaco

2000 – “Medica pro Musica” Award for Young Musicians in Dusseldorf

2020 – Diploma for Contribution to the Popularization of Bulgarian Culture Around the World (Ministry of Culture of Bulgaria)

 

 

Veselin "Eko" Veselinov:

Eko is a Bulgarian musician, bass guitarist, double bassist, and composer. He began his career in the 1980s, performing with various bands in different styles. He is one of the most sought-after session bassists in Bulgaria. From a young age, he played bass guitar. He graduated from the National Academy of Music with a major in bass guitar. In 1996, together with Stoyan Yankulov and Vasil Parmakov, he formed the fusion band Zona C, and in 1998, Infinity. Since 2011, he has been part of Tube Hedzzz. In 2004, he joined the Zhivko Petrov Trio (JP3) for the Apollonia festival. In 2003, he was awarded "Bassist of the Year" at the annual BG Radio Awards. Over the years, he has worked as a musician and composer with the following artists: Milcho Leviev, Theodosii Spassov, Lili Ivanova, Yildiz Ibrahimova, Vasil Petrov, Hilda Kazasyan, Kamelia Todorova, Antoni Donchev, Stefan Valdobrev (with The Usual Suspects), Hristo Yotsov, and many others.