Zlatne Uste with guest AZRA

Zlatne Uste

From Kolos to Kusturica, experience the rich sounds of driving Balkan brass. Zlatne Uste (Golden Lips) is an internationally known group of American-born musicians playing traditional music of the Balkans, primarily representing Serbian, Macedonian, Bulgarian and Romany (Gypsy) traditions. Four-time invited guest at the Dragachevo Brass Festival in Gucha, Serbia, the 12-piece band is among the foremost presenters of traditional Balkan dance music in the United States. Each year Zlatne Uste hosts and produces the Golden Festival, New York's biggest and best Balkan music festival with an astounding 40 or more bands and something for everyone.

Official Website

Azra

Azra brings voice to a heartbreak, joy and longing. Her singing reflects the lyrical melancholy of Balkan folk with sultry elements of Gypsy Jazz and Sephardic Ladino tradition.
Azra’s performances illuminate an inner world forever marked by the war in the Former Yugoslavia, and her immigrant life in the United States. Raised in Bosnia, on Tom Waits, Django Reinhardt, U2, Broadway musicals, opera and classical music – the young Azra successfully mixed those genres with the traditional, Balkan-style singing. A dramatic mezzo-soprano, with unique ornamentation and expressive singing style, Azra is a captivating stage performer. She is currently collaborating with Petar Teodosijev, an accordionist who spent 25 years performing with Teodosijev Ensamble and Roma legend – Esma Redzepova. The collaboration between Petar and Azra is envisioned as homage to their Yugoslavian roots – so far, 13 tracks have been recorded including rarely sung traditional songs from Macedonia, Croatia, Serbia and Bosnia. The album, entitled “Azra Sings” is expected to be released in May 2012.

Petar Teodosijev

Born in Kocani, Macedonia and Pero learned accordion at a very early age. He was drafted by his uncle, Stevo Teodosievski at the age of 15, to join his ensemble. He worked with Stevo and his wife Esma Redzepova for 25 years as an accordion player. He composed, recorded and performed many songs with them in concerts worldwide. He now lives and works in Denver, CO. After a ten year hiatus he is directing a recording project with Azra Selak (Bosnia). The project includes songs from Russia, the Balkans and also from the Sephardic folk tradition.