Location: Menza pri Koritu/Ljubljana/Slovenia
Show date: 10.09.2008
Attendance: 50
Ticket price: 8 €
After being genuinely impressed by Bratko Bibič and his pradolenjski švicarji, I was really curious what the legendary accordionist would serve up with his quartet, which also features the renowned saxophonist Vasko Atanasovski. I figured it would be a much looser, freer jazz jam, but that’s apparently not in the perfectionist nature of Bratko Bibič, whom someone has even dubbed the Slovenian Robert Fripp (except Bibič plays accordion). So once again we got neatly arranged compositions from Bibič’s pen, with not much room for improvisation (the guys even had sheet music in front of them), but there was still plenty of space for fun and experimenting, so the pieces never came off as too rigid.
Musically, Bratko Bibič has drifted a bit away from the music of Begnagrad, which was far more goofy and experimental. Just like at Cankarjev dom, where I last saw him, this time the program was mostly serious pieces (sometimes with tongue-in-cheek titles, well, Bratko can’t help being Bratko) drawing on classical, jazz and avant-garde, with the odd Balkan and Alpine melody peeking through here and there. Unusual combinations, but they come across as very confident and interesting. Bratko made up for the lack of humor at the end, when, just like at Cankarjev dom, he sang the playful song Petelinje. The show could easily have gone on for another half hour, and I don’t think anyone would have minded, but given the late start (almost a two-hour delay), it’s only logical that they had to trim the program a bit and didn’t come back for an encore.
Alongside Bibič on accordion, the lineup this time included a woodwind specialist, the famous musician Vasko Atanasovski, who switched between all kinds of saxophones, occasionally grabbed a flute, and a couple of times even breathed into the microphone. Then there was Matjaž Sekne on violin and viola. Strings are always welcome in my book, and Sekne brought quality and a classical touch. Uroš Polanc on trombone served as a sort of makeshift rhythm section, since the lineup has no drums, no bass and no cello. The central figure was of course Bratko Bibič, who, together with Atanasovski, got the most chances to shine. And he didn’t let us down. Mr. Bibič is a perfectionist in the style of Robert Fripp, and he was also the only one in the band who didn’t need sheet music, which just goes to show how well he knows his own creations.
Sadly, by the end we had run out of time and energy for the Hungarian Meszei Szilard and his trio, so all we’re left with is a good impression of Bratko Bibič and his quartet. The Hungarians only went on after one in the morning, and unfortunately other obligations didn’t allow us to stay for them too. Bibič once again came through with a repertoire that can thrill fans of experimental music. I hope he keeps going for a long time with his mix of avant-garde, jazz, classical and ethno influences, because music like this is always in short supply in Slovenia.
Text: Rok Podgrajšek
Photos: Aleš Podbrežnik
Setlist
1. Zvonovi
2. Gallusovina
3. Encore 2.
4. Enocre 1.
5. Labis
6. Nerodnjak
7. Hymera
8. Ableitung
a- Das Gute Gheist aus Grunwald
b- odvod
9. Petelinje
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