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Tania Lukic-Marx now gives the CD reviews a rating
system. This system includes a number of stars at the completion
of the review, for example 5 stars (*****) means the CD was "brilliant"
or "excellent", 4 stars = impressive, 3 stars = good,
2 stars = satisfactory and 1 star = didn't impress.
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Milen Slavov is a composer, performer and teacher. Born in Stara Zagora
in Bulgaria, he began playing accordion at the age of seven. He graduated
from Bulgaria's first professional folk music training institute, then attended
the Musical Pedagogical Conservatory in Plovdov. He is a skilled master
of the keyboard, accordion and tambura. He plays and composes in Bulgarian
traditional, contemporary, improvisational, Eastern European and gypsy style.
Slavov has lived in America since 1997 and has toured throughout the US.
He was a guest artist teacher of the UCLA Ethnomusicology Department for
the 98/99 academic year. He has performed at the prestigious Carrefour Mondial
de l'Accordeon in Montmagny, Canada, the Californian Academy of Sciences,
Wild Iris World Music Festival and Cotati Accordion Festival. He has appeared
live on CBC (Canada's national radio), as well as on other stations in the
US. The Californian Art Council granted Milen the 1999/2000 Performing Arts
Fellowship in Musical Composition.
Milen's CD came as a part of a 'package', which included a printed music
book containing pieces performed on the CD and the CD itself. The pieces
were composed and played by Milen on the acoustic accordion in the Bulgarian
folk style. Improvisatory character, technical security in performing technically
demanding folk music with its complicated trills, enthusiasm that his playing
reflects - these are the "trade marks" of Milen's performing style.
This CD covers a specific area of music - Bulgarian folk music and would
be perfectly suitable for that kind of interest. ***
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