GERBAZ IS GOING TO TAKE YOU ON A MUSICAL JOURNEY TO MIDDLE-EARTH OF ISTRIA AND KVARNER BAY
Croatian progressive jazz musician Damjan Grbac follows up his extremely appreciated debut album „GIIPUJA“ with a new ethno jazz (World music) album "GERBAZ GIIPUJA". 
Damjan Grbac, the author, arranger and the band leader of the jazz quartet “damjans”, combines jazz with specific Croatian folk music, the authentic and unique ethno music of Istrian peninsula and Kvarner region which is played in specific Istrian scale. This fusion enables great creativity and seems to be very inspiring to all four musicians who took part in this project. The album is released by the MENART label.
The album GERBAZ GIIPUJA is composed of five original compositions inspired by traditional folk music and one adapted folk melody. "Our longer tracks are strong and deep, so to keep the whole album flowing, we inserted four short interlude pieces as treats between main, longer compositions" states Grbac. "Whatever it is that you might be expecting from this CD – prepare for surprises and wonders, because GERBAZ GIIPUJA will take you on a musical journey to Middle-earth of Istria and Kvarner Bay, where as legends tell us, dreadful creatures and elves reign." 
"Traditional, ethno music of Istria and Kvarner Bay is performed in a specific musical scale, Istrian scale. UNESCO has protected this scale as world's non-material cultural heritage. This scale is the most original part of my own musical heritage.", explains Damjan Grbac, an artist who found his inspiration in the ancient ethno music of his native Kvarner Bay, and blended that archaic traditional music with the contemporary improvised jazz.
The selection of musicians for this project is diverse. Marko First, a multi-instrumentalist from Zagreb, plays sopele, twin houses, and violin and brings original folk sound and performance. Italian saxophone player Andreas Marinello who plays soprano, tenor and alto saxophone has nicely blended into this, for him foreign and unknown, traditional music idiom. Both, Damjan Grbac who plays double bass and the drummer and percussionist Tonči Grabušić are jazz musicians who are well acquainted with the traditional music of their native area, and have collaborated on similar projects in the past. Damjan's eclectic choice of musicians proves to be a winning combination.
Sponsors: Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia, Kastav Tourist board, City of Rijeka, Municipality of Viškovo, Primorje-gorski kotar County, Autotrans, G.I.S. Music production, Matrix Croatica Kastav, City of Kastav.

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