Balkan jazz is an umbrella term for

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...

from different parts of the Balkan peninsula in

southeastern Europe Southeast Europe or Southeastern Europe (SEE) is a geographical subregion of Europe, consisting primarily of the Balkans. Sovereign states and territories that are included in the region are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia (a ...

. Jazz in the region may incorporate various types of

Balkan music Balkan music is a type of music found in the Balkan region of southeastern Europe. The music is characterised by complex rhythm. Famous bands in Balkan music include Taraf de Haïdouks, Fanfare Ciocărlia, and No Smoking Orchestra. Historical ...

, especially

folk music Folk music is a music genre that includes traditional folk music and the contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be called world music. Traditional folk music has b ...

s (including "

gypsy style The term gypsy style refers to the typical way Eastern European music is played in coffeehouses and restaurants, at parties, and sometimes on-stage, in European cities. Music played in this style and loosely called gypsy music differs from actual ...

"). It has embraced improvisation and originality, much like jazz traditions in the Americas and elsewhere. Characteristic features can include use of unusual

meters The metre ( British spelling) or meter ( American spelling; see spelling differences) (from the French unit , from the Greek noun , "measure"), symbol m, is the primary unit of length in the International System of Units (SI), though its p ...

("odd rhythms"), sometimes played very fast. There are many venues for Balkan jazz, which is also frequently played at weddings and big celebrations. The clarinet is often a key instrument in keeping with folk music traditions, and the accordion, drum, bass and electric guitar are also widely used. Pioneers of Balkan jazz in the Europe include Duško Gojković (English spelling Dushko Goykovich) from Music of Serbia#Jazz, Serbia, Milcho Leviev, Martin Lubenov and from Jazz in Bulgaria, Bulgaria, or Adrian Gaspar from Romania.

References

See also