The Los Angeles Times calls Eastern Blok’s music “relentlessly
innovative work.” Downbeat Magazine claims that “the ensemble playing
is often breakneck and consistently challenging.” Acoustic Guitar
Magazine raves that Eastern Blok plays with “blazing virtuosity and
sheer beauty.” Innovation! Innovation! Innovation! Such is the musical
mantra for popular world fusion jazz ensemble Eastern Blok. This group
remains ever ready to outdo themselves by pushing the envelope just a
little further with each subsequent performance, often through the
employment of unconventional rhythmic patterns and offbeat phrasings.
They further challenge themselves by experimenting with music that
varies in mood from the intensely lyrical and profoundly emotional to
the more animated and light-hearted yet electrifying. Their inventive
re-interpretations of old standards and innovative original
compositions are a by-product of the artful blending of many diverse
styles with jazz including classical, Macedonian, Bulgarian, and
Serbian folk, Klezmer, rock and a smattering of Middle Eastern
flavorings as well. The band members are all formally trained
musicians and virtuosos in their own right, so as one might expect,
their music is as distinguished in its complexity as it is technically
advanced. Nevertheless, Eastern Blok takes pride in creating music
that appeals to all types of listeners and also continues to stand the
test of time. They will tell you that key to their success in this
regard lies in the blending of both classical and jazz genres in a
musical setting that is ever evolving yet still highly pleasing to the
vast majority of listeners’ ears. (World Music Boston) EASTERN BLOK’s
“extraordinary pan-cultural ensemble effortlessly blends classical and
jazz music with the rich folkloric traditions of Macedonia, Bulgaria,
and Serbia. The resulting music is as alluring as it is complex.
Exotic Middle Eastern motifs merge gracefully with the evocative
sounds of Eastern European klezmer music. Beautifully conceived folk
passages are followed by perfectly executed Mahavishnu-inspired
pyrotechnics. The passion and urgency at which this group plays is
heard in every note…” (Minor 7th Magazine). EASTERN BLOK features
classical guitar virtuoso GORAN IVANOVIC, joined by DOUG ROSENBERG on
woodwinds, MATTHEW ULERY on upright bass, and MICHAEL CASKEY on
percussion. The band was originally dubbed Goran Ivanovic Group by
founding members Ivanovic and Rosenberg. They teamed up with Ulery and
Caskey in 2004. After successfully packing venues throughout the
country and honing their musical direction, the band released their
self-titled debut album in 2005. "The Goran Ivanovic Group" record met
with critical acclaim, combining traditional folk music from the
Balkans along with Latin, flamenco and klezmer elements, European
classical influences and American jazz. The track “Blacksmith’s Dance”
was selected out of thousands of submissions as one of three finalists
in the 2005 John Lennon Songwriting Competition. In 2006, the group
began performing under the name EASTERN BLOK. At this point, it had
already been invited to present educational concerts and masterclasses
at major universities like Princeton, Cornell, Carnegie Mellon, and
University of Michigan among others. The group’s sound, its musical
influences and the academic training of the band members worked
especially well as an educational springboard at music schools across
the country. Year 2007 brought the group further recognition following
their performance on Chicago Public Radio’s “Chicago Undercover,” and
their headlining of the World Music Festival in Chicago. Eastern
Blok’s next record, “Folk Tales,” was recorded that same year and
released at their performance in the Museum of Contemporary Art in
Chicago. "Folk Tales" features a somber, serious sound with a lively
and elusive beat. Having drawn upon highly dynamic classical and jazz
aesthetics rather than relying on a recent fad of gypsy-jam-band
antics, Eastern Blok maintained a timeless sound and virtuosic
approach. With “Folk Tales” in hand, the group continued trekking
across the country, performing at venues like Blues Alley and Twins
Jazz in Washington D.C., The Metro and Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium
Park in Chicago, The Krannert Center in Urbana, Joe’s Pub and Makor in
NYC and Chris Jazz in Philadelphia to name just a few. Turning over a
new leaf, the band went on a tour of the American South with popular
jam band Snarky Puppy in Spring 2011. This tour was used to work out
the music of the new album, “Underwater.” After visiting Kentucky,
Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi, Eastern Blok’s final concert before
recording was a triumphant return to Rosch Hall at SUNY-Fredonia, to a
standing-room only crowd. The day Eastern Blok returned to Chicago,
they entered the studio, capturing the unique energy that only a
well-seasoned travelling band can display. “Underwater” is recorded
live to 2” inch analogue tape, in homage to classic recording styles
It features compositions by Goran Ivanovic, and new to this album,
work by bassist Matt Ulery. Here’s an excerpt from the concert review
at Fredonia: Sporting a brown suit, bass player Matt Ulery introduced
his newly created piece "Underwater Suite." The piece introduces a
whole different style of music as the instruments morphed into
crashing waves, bubbles and swishing underwater life. Rosenberg
muffled his saxophone with his knee while Caskey scratched the symbols
on his American style drum set, utilizing their instruments in ways
that were anything but conventional.
"Five or six years ago this was
one of our first college shows ever. We have great memories and it is
great to be back," Rosenberg said.
The audience shared his gratitude
by rising three times for a standing ovation. One ovation roared so
loud after the player left the stage, they were encouraged to return
one last time for an encore piece.
Many faculty, alumni and students
filled the seats of the recital hall. Mrs. Kale, a music education
alumni of SUNY Fredonia, traveled from Buffalo to see Eastern Blok and
was blown away by the performance. "The show has been spectacular,
just really, really amazing," Kale said.
After the show, Eastern Blok
met outside Rosch where anxious fans bought their albums, received
signings and got to pull aside band members to ask questions and
congratulate them on a superb performance. (Kelley Lord, Fredonia
Leader)
