EVA QUARTET & HECTOR ZAZOU “THE ARCH” 2012 (EM01) The Arch is one of the most outstanding recordings and biggest projects in the history of World Music, featuring more than 50 musicians from 14 different countries. The Swan song of the French musical magician Hector Zazou is a project together with the exceptional Bulgarian voices of ‘Eva Quartet’ (part of the world famous choir ‘Le Mystere Des Voix Bulgares’) with the special participation of musicians from different genres and fields of music. One producer of The Arch is Dimiter Panev – founder and director of the Bulgarian-German label and booking agency Elen Music – a 15-year-old company working with musicians from Bulgaria as well as other different countries. Dimiter Panev is also known as the producer of the CD ‘Ivo Papasov’, which got the 2005 BBC Music Award. For three years Hector Zazou and Dimiter Panev travelled together a lot, communicated with musicians from all over the world, exchanged opinions, ideas, thoughts. It was a very long, yet creative way – The Arch. They went through the sophisticated and long process of creating this unique project – all the guest musicians were recorded in several studio sessions and many more improvised recordings on three continents. The list of guests is quite long, featuring musicians from jazz, folk, world music, fusion, electronic and avant-garde etc. Among the outstanding musicians there are the ‘queen’ of experimental music Laurie Anderson (USA), Ryuichi Sakamoto (Japan), one of the most interesting piano players and composers of our time, the avantgarde rock guitar player Robert Fripp (UK), founder of the cult rock band King Crimson, the R.E.M. ex-drummer Bill Rieflin (USA). Moreover, several creative jazz musicians like Bill Frisell (USA), Nils Petter Molvær (Norway) and Zoltan Lantos (Hungary) took part in The Arch. Some of the biggest folk and world music musicians – Djiavan Gasparian (Armenia), Carlos Nunez (Spain) and Bollywood String Orchestra (India), Indian singer Kaushiki Charkaborty and the masterly Algerian oud player Mehdi Haddab (The Speed Caravan) are part of this incredible project. Of course, there are also many guests from Bulgaria – the contemporary composer and brilliant pianist Antoni Donchev, the male voices of Dvuglas – Milen Ivanov and Daniel Spasov, Sofia String Quartet, the creative project Diva Reka featuring the masterly kaval player Kostadin Genchev and tambura player Dimiter Hristov and many more. The Arch is mixed and mastered by Peter Walsh – a sound engineer who has worked together with many musicians – from the Spandau Ballet and Stevie Wonder to Peter Gabriel and Pulp. The Arch is the methaphorical place where ancient traditions and magical voices meet contemporary feelings, amazing talent, masterly techniques, fame and pure creative spirit in order to create music that connects the best of music. Hector Zazou’s spirit has come alive again.
History
Tracklist and Musicians EVA QUARTET are Gergana Dimitrova – soprano HECTOR ZAZOU – electronics 01. LAZARIZA 4:32 music Nikolay Kaufman arrangement Hector Zazou Eva Quartet – voices Hector Zazou – electronics Carlos Nunez – flutes Zoltan Lantos – violin Bill Frisell – guitar Minna Raskinen – kantele 02. RAZVIVAY, DÓBRO 5:50 arrangement Anka Koushleva & Hector Zazou beginning melody by Kayhan Kalhor Eva Quartet – voices Hector Zazou – electronics Andrea Guzzoletti – trumpet and flugelhorn Zoltan Lantos – violin Antoni Donchev – piano Stoyan Pavlov – tupan * drums Sting Quartet Ljudmil Nenchev – 1st violin Emil Boshev – 2nd violin Ognian Kostantinov – viola Christo Tanev – cello arrangement Antoni Donchev Diva Reka Group Kostadin Gentchev – kaval (flute) Dimitar Hristov – tambura Violeta Petkova – gudulka (violin) Peyo Peev – gudulka (violin) Oleg Videnov – mandoline Dimitar Tishev – accordion Stoyan Pavlov – percussion Dobri Paliev – percussion 03. BALNO LI TI E, SINO LJO 4:47 music Ivan Spassov arrangement Hector Zazou Eva Quartet – voices Hector Zazou – electronics Nils Petter Molvær – trumpet Roberto Cechetto – guitar Cecilia Chailly – harp Ryuichi Sakamoto – piano * drums, percussion 04. GOSPODI, POMILUY 5:14 on melodies of an Anonym from IXc. / arrangement Hector Zazou Eva Quartet – voices Hector Zazou – electronics Laurie Anderson – voice & violin Kostadin Gentchev – kaval Cecilia Chailly – harp Radosvet Kukudov – vibraphone Bollywood Orchestra 05. PLANINSKO 7:39 on melodies from an old folk song from the Pirin area / arrangement Hector Zazou Eva Quartet – voices Hector Zazou – electronics Antoni Donchev – piano Dobri Paliev – marimba * drums, percussion Diva Reka Group Kostadin Gentchev – kaval (flute) Dimitar Hristov – tambura Violeta Petkova – gudulka (violin) Peyo Peev – gudulka (violin) Oleg Videnov – mandoline Dimitar Tishev – accordion Stoyan Pavlov – percussion Dobri Paliev – percussion 06. PLADNE DOYDE 3:44 on melodies of an old song / arrangement Hector Zazou Eva Quartet – voices Hector Zazou – electronics Daniel Spassov – vocal Milen Ivanov – vocal Jivan Gasparyan– duduk Quatuor Harmos – harmonica Janne Strömstedt – harmonium 07. DOSTOINOEST 10:50 on melodies of an Anonym from IXc. / arrangement Hector Zazou Eva Quartet – voices Hector Zazou – electronics Kaushiki Chakrabarty – voice Xavier Cobo – flute Zoltan Lantos – violin Violeta Petkova – solo gudulka (violin) Robert Fripp – guitar Mehdi Haddab – ud Diva Reka Group Kostadin Gentchev – kaval (flute) Dimitar Hristov – tambura Violeta Petkova – gudulka (violin) Peyo Peev – gudulka (violin) Oleg Videnov – mandoline Dimitar Tishev – accordion Stoyan Pavlov – percussion Dobri Paliev – percussion 08. YANA 3:54 arrangement Dimitar Hristov & Hector Zazou Eva Quartet – voices Hector Zazou – electronics Carlos Nunez – flute and bagpipe Kostadin Gentchev – kaval Xavier Cobo – flute Renaud Gabriel Pion – clarinet Andrea Guzzoletti – flugelhorn Dimiter Hristov – tambura Stefano Saletti – bouzouki Diego Amador – piano Dobri Paliev – marimba * drums, percussion Bollywood Orchestra 09. SNOSHTI SI, MAMO, ZAMRAKNAKH 6:46 arrangement Kostadin Buradjiev & Hector Zazou Eva Quartet – voices Hector Zazou – electronics Renaud Gabriel Pion– clarinet Xavier Cobo – flute Nils Petter Molvær – trumpet Antoni Donchev – piano Bill Rieflin – drums 10. MINKA 5:57 arrangement Stefka Koushleva & Hector Zazou Eva Quartet – voices Hector Zazou – electronics Jivan Gasparyan – duduk Kostadin Gentchev – kaval Zoltan Lantos – violin Dimiter Hristov – tambura Cecilia Chailly – harp Antoni Donchev – piano Dobri Paliev – marimba * drums, percussion String Quartet Ljudmil Nenchev – 1st violin Emil Boshev – 2nd violin Ognian Kostantinov – viola Christo Tanev – cello arrangement Antoni Donchev 11. THE ARCH 2:09 music & arrangement Hector Zazou Eva Quartet – voices Hector Zazou – electronics Laurie Anderson – voice 12. KADÓNA 6:52 arrangement Kostadin Gentchev & Hector Zazou Eva Quartet – voices Hector Zazou – electronics Laurie Anderson – violin Bill Frisell – guitar David Coulter – musical saw Radosvet Kukudov – vibraphone
Sofia Kovacheva – mezzo-soprano
Evelina Christova – alto
Daniela Stoichkova-Dimitrova – contralto
Milen Ivanov (conductor) – bass-baritone
Recordings 2006 - 2009 Eva Quartet, Antoni Donchev, Kostadin Gentchev, Dimitar Hristov, Radosvet Kukudov, Dobri Paliev, Stoyan Pavlov, Daniel Spassov, Sofia Sting Quartet recorded on 1st and 2nd recording sessions in Acoustic Version Studio, Sofia/Bulgaria, by Pavel Boljarski Eva Quartet and Diva Reka Group recorded on 3rd recording session in Maiski Studio, Sofia/Bulgaria by Sletljo Zarov Roberto Cechetto, Cecilia Chailly, David Coulter, Jivan Gasparyan, Andrea Guzzoletti, Mehdi Haddab, Carlos Nunez, Renaud Gabriel Pion, Minna Raskinen, Bill Rieflin, Janne Strömstedt recorded at NME Studio (Montreuil/France) or with the NME Mobile Studio on various locations by Hector Zazou. Zoltan Lantos and Nils Petter Molvær recorded at Acoustic Version Studio, Sofia/Bulgaria by Pavel Boljarski Robert Fripp recorded in DGM SoundWorld One Studio, England by David Singleton Bill Frisell recorded in Emerson77 Studio, USA, by Matt Brown Kaushiki Chakrabarty recorded in Teatro Del Gatto, Ascona/Italy by Lorenzo Tommasini Laurie Anderson recorded in Studio of “Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt” Weimar/Germany by Matthias Middelkamp Stefano Saletti recorded at Four Winds Studio, Rome/Italy by Fabiana Manuelli Diego Amador recorded in Sevilla/Spain by Jorge Reyes Oliva Bollywood Orchestra recorded in Aadi Shakti Studio, Mumbai/India by Tapan Diwanjee Ryuichi Sakamoto recorded in Girona/Spain by Tetsushi Mase and Zach Bassett * Four different talented musicians played drums and percussions on the album. Unfortunately, Hector passed away before he could put in writing who played what in which song. These musicians are Pavel Boljarski, Giovanni Lo Cascio, Stoyan Pavlov, Bill Rieflin. Laurie Anderson appears courtesy of Nonesuch Records Antoni Donchev appears courtesy of AD Music Records Bill Frisell appears courtesy of the Savoy Label Group. Andrea Guzzoletti appears courtesy of Even Eights Records Mehdi Haddab appears courtesy of Realworld Records Nils Petter Molvær appears courtesy of SULA Records Carlos Nunez appears courtesy of Sony Music Ryuichi Sakamoto appears courtesy of Commmons Stefano Saletti appears courtesy of Piccola Banda Ikona Music Arrangements and compositions by Hector Zazou published by Taktic Music All other arrangements and compositions © Control Additional sonic treatments by Peter Walsh Mixed by Peter Walsh at KHS, Düsseldorf/Germany Mastered at Skyline Studio, Düsseldorf/Germany by Kai Blankenberg Translations by Ina Sofia Kalo (lyrics), Gergana Marinova and Kim Burton Design and drawings by Dimiter Panev Produced by Hector Zazou & Dimiter Panev
Marco Polo describes a bridge, stone by stone.
“But which is the stone that supports the bridge?” Kublai
Khan asks.
“The bridge is not supported by one stone or another,“
Marco answers, “but by the line of the arch that they form.”
Kublai Khan remains silent, reflecting. Then he adds:
“Why do you speak to me of the stones? It is only the arch
that matters to me.”
Polo answers: “Without stones there is no arch.”
ITALO CALVINO “Invisible Cities”