ProJazz.net

Reception

This is one of the greatest albums ever from Duško Gojković, a set that follows strongly in his Swinging Macedonia session mood from a decade before, and which, like that one, mixes up jazz with a range of Eastern European influences. Slavic Mood is recorded in October 1974 in Rome for the Vista label, a division of RCA specializing in Italian jazz. The tracks are all originals by Gojković, played by a quintet that is heavy on modal rhythms and warmly rolling grooves, a style that would be right at home on the MPS label, but which has gotten very little exposure over the years, thanks to the rarity of this Italian-only release. Gojković plays trumpet, and other instrumentation includes tenor and soprano saxophones by Ben Thompson, piano by Vince Benedetti, bass by Joe Nay, and drums by Andy Scherrer. The whole thing is a work of incredible depth and beauty, and is definitely one of the records to seek out for those who have heard Gojković’s name over the years, but have not yet latched onto his genius. Titles include “Got No Money” (also on the RCA Victor compilation THE VIBE! Hypnotic Grooves & Modal Jazz & Hard Bop/Vol. 1), “Kosmet” (also on the Reward Schema Reward In Italy), “East Of Montenegro,” “Flying Rome,” and “Slavic Mood.” (Slobodan Mihajlović, user review at AllMusic).

Track listing

Slavic Mood
Got No Money
No Love Without Tears
Old Fisherman’s Daughter
Kosmet
East Of Montenegro
Flying Rome

Personnel

Bass – Bert Thompson
Drums – Joe Nay
Piano – Vince Benedetti
Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Andy Scherrer
Trumpet – Dusko Gojkovic

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Label: RCA – 82876 820862
Series: The Vibe ! (Original Rare Grooves Album Series)
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered
Country: Italy
Released: 2006