The greatest living Bulgarian accordion player, one of the great masters of Eastern European & Balkan instrumental folk and folk-jazz music, Petar Ralchev and his Quartet will perform in Medford, MA! Hear this extraordinary musician at a special venue – Springstep art center. A rare opportunity to enjoy one of the world’s most prominent masters on accordion. A flyer is attached. More info below.

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Springstep, Hawkins Hall,
98 George P. Hassett Drive,
Medford, MA

Concert and Dance Party: 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM

$20 online order*, $25 at the door,
$15 students (with Student ID), children and seniors 65+. Children under 12 free

Dance party leading by the folk-dance group “Ludo Mlado” choreographer PETER PETROV

For tickets, videos and more info visit:
"http://www.bgfocus.com/events/2011/ralchev/index.html"

A legend on the Eastern European music scene for over 30 years, Petar Ralchev is famous for a unique style of a wide range of influences: Bulgarian folklore, jazz and folk-jazz fusion, Romanian and Serbian music, and other European folklore traditions. Acknowledged universally as one of the great technical virtuosos, Ralchev has been heard throughout the world in solo performances and in a number of multi-ethnic European bands (klezmer and lautari “The Other Europeans Band”, classic-jazz multi-ethnic “No Border Orchestra”, new-wave Bulgarian “ZigZag Trio”) with titans of folk/classic/jazz such as Ivo Papazov, Marin Bunea, Kalman Balogh. His versatility takes one through seamless transitions of genres and meters: from Bulgarian rachenitsas to waltzes, and from klezmer-like Romanian tunes to “weaves of modal jazz”.

Performing with Ralchev are three virtuosos of the younger generation: Nikolay Georgiev (guitar), Iliana Marudova-Georgiev (vocal), and Petur Iliev (tupan, drum). All are Bulgarian artists who combine the old village traditions of their home country, polished through intensive training in elite professional schools and enriched by the musical traditions of other parts of the world.
This concert is part of a coast-to-coast tour of Ralchev and Quartet across the U.S. and Canada.

What others say about him:

“They can shift between time signatures like most people breathe—without a thought or a hiccup—and Ralchev fires off nimble barrages and crazed melodies with razor-sharp clarity. His rich harmonic palette allows him to create dazzling chords, change keys seemingly at will, and answer his own improvised phrases with statements that thread them all together and push the music inexorably forward.” Peter Margasak, Chicago Reader

"The resulting weave of modal jazz, fleeting references to folk dance, sudden harmonic side-slips and sleights of hand is quite unlike anything else I've ever heard. None of the tracks follows the same pattern, but all are equally inventive... if you want to hear how far up the beach the Bulgarian New Wave has reached, then get this rec" Kim Burton, Songlines

"He's incredible--thrilling. One of the best I've seen. Crazy dancing. DO NOT MISS IT!!" Mac Francis, April 22, 2011, Bloomington, IN

"I was in energy and music heaven, and could go on and wished it went on for at least another hour. I was so excited and just could not stay still. And did not bother to try to do so." Lina Khawaldah, April 22, 2011, Bloomington, IN

VIDEOS: they are a lot on You tube
"http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=AH8d8rbjQzU"
"http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jrLSZuomWKE"
"http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-6pourQX90o"

For contacts: [email protected] or www.BGcenter.org

Контакт: [email protected]