Sabin Todorov Trio - Inside Story 2 (2010)

On his first album as a band leader, “Inside Story”, Sabin Todorov already used traditional melodies from his native Bulgaria as an inspiration. For “Inside Story 2”, the link is even clearer as not only does the repertoire consist of popular songs from different Bulgarian regions, the trio (with Sal La Rocca on bass and Lionel Beuvens on drums) is accompanied by the Bulgarka Junior Quartet that sings using the distinctive vocal style and technique.

To find a harmony between the trio and quartet, Todorov invited the noted Belgian sax player Steve Houben who already knows music from Eastern Europe well. With Panta Rhei, he has played with Boyan Vodenicharov, Emil Vicklicky and others. The idea was to take traditional Bulgarian songs as a basis for composition, a canvas on which a structure is built using the tools of modern composing, the richness of jazz harmonies and the freedom of improvisation.

The voices are not used as background sounds, but as a genuine solo choir that expresses the different rhythms and emotions of a repertoire that ranges from the humorous – “Oy Shope Shope” – love songs – “Love Sick” – a Christmas song – “Beautiful Horses” – a battle hymn – “Kosovo Field” – pagan rituals – “Ritual” – and the self-explanatory “Lament. Three songs by the leader are included, “Prayer”, “Just After” and “The End”. The show was created in August 2009 as part of the Gaume Jazz festival.