Saban Bajramovic - A Gypsy Legend (2002)

''Saban Bajramovic (Šaban Bajramović, Шабан Бајрамовић) lived a complex life and it is reflected in the music he creates. His passion for life and his unique life experiences are evident in both the music and the lyrics. He is produces original melodies with outstanding improvisations that mirror the special talents of this rare human being. He uses Balkan rhythms and melodies within a jazz motif to tease the listener – who is drawn immediately to the rhythm, the spectacular combination of instruments. He incorporates traditional instruments as well as modern ones, mimicking the ancient Balkan brass bands from the turn of the century, plus using the accordion to create the gajde-like (bagpipe) sound of the past. The clarinet often reigns supreme with improvisaitons that leave the listener breathless. His voice is mellow, distinctive and has a smokey, sensual sound. He wrote most of the lyrics and music on this CD. So far it is my favorite CD of his. Most of the songs are in the Roma language but a few are in the Serbian language.

Track #5, "Pena" is outstanding and was selected to be included in the "Gypsy Caravan" CD by Putumayo. Saban fell in love with a girl in Sofia, Bulgaria, he kissed her and she suddenly left him … disappeared like soap foam. He dedicates the song to her.
I am particularly fond of the music and melody of Track #14, "Pitao sam malog puza" which is about a little snail, who is asked to sell his house to the singer. The snail reminds the singer that he squandered his money in gambling and card games and could have had enough to buy a house. He begs the little snail to take pity on him, it is fall time, the weather is cold, and the singer's luck ran out, his lover does not want him. One of the most important songs on this CD is Track #2, "Pelno me sam". Bajramovic spent time at Goli Otok, a bare rock island prison off the Dalmation coast. He was sent there for wanting to be with his woman (and deserting the army to be with her). Here he sings of wasting away in prison, wanting to fly over the prison walls, as his daughter is getting married and he can't be near her to wish her well. "I am writing a letter and crying, I am dying in prison, Years are flying by…Oh Lord, give me two wings to make it to the wedding, to wish her luck, and then die without regret".
He sings in a voice partly wrecked by cigarettes and alcohol, a voice that wails and shatters from backroads of tragedy and hardship, yet breaks through clean and clear, ultimately triumphant. The MSR provides the perfect backdrop, with clarinet, guitars, violin, berde bass, percussion, acccordion, trumpet, etc.''

…It is difficult to stay objective in this review while listening to this master-piece. The saying goes that no one should go down on one's knees and bow one's head before a living human being, but in this case an exception should be made .(Mladen Hlubna-Oslobodjenje / Bosnia and Hercegovina,06.12.2001)

***** (5 stars) … Saban Bajramovic,a gypsy legend? No that is not an exaggeration,it is an absolute fact ! (Zlatko Gall-Slobodna dalmacija / Croatia, October 2001)

…The Balkan CD of the year ( Ilko Culic -National / Croatia,25.10.2001)

Tracklist:

1 Jasmina
2 Pelno me sam
3 Hanuma
4 Avaj, avaj me cavo
5 Pena
6 Sila kale bal
7 Djeli Mara
8 Opa cupa
9 Djelem, djelem
10 Boza, limunada
11 Dade, dade
12 I barval pudela
13 Sajbija
14 Pitao sam malog puza


no pass