Kočani Orkestar

Kočani orkestar (in Macedonian: Кочани оркестар) also credited under the names: Kocani orkestar, Kocani Orchestra, Kochani orkestar and Kochani Orchestra is a Macedonian Romani brass band from Kočani, North Macedonia led till 2000 by Naat Veliov.^[2] Kočani orkestar are among the funkiest exponents of the Balkan brass band style which is found across ex-Yugoslavia and is a direct descendant of the music once played by Turkish army bands. Their music is based on Gypsy tunes from various parts of the Balkans and on Turkish rhythms, with a sprinkle of Latin flavour.

Kočani orkestar
Kočani Orkestar performing with Beirut
Background information
Origin	Kočani, North Macedonia
Genres	Balkan Brass Band Balkan Music Gypsy^[1]
Years active	1994-present
Labels	Crammed Discs Divano Productions
Members	Saban Jasarov Redzai Durmisev Nijazi Alimov Sukri Zejnelov Suad Asanov Ajnur Azizov Durak Demirov Turan Gaberov Sukri Kadriev Dzeladin Demirov

Their song "Siki, siki baba" is featured on the soundtrack for the movie Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan although it has no connection to the Music of Kazakhstan. Together with the Romani singer Esma Redžepova, Naat Veliov has filed a lawsuit for the producers of the movie for an unauthorised use of the song.^[3][4]

Discography

Albums

• A Gypsy Brass Band (1995)
• L'Orient Est Rouge (1998)
• Gypsy Mambo (1999)
• Ulixes (2001) with the Harmonia Ensemble
• Alone At My Wedding (2002)
• The Ravished Bride (2008)

Contributing artist

• The Rough Guide to the Music of Eastern Europe (1999, World Music Network)

Members

 

Kočani orkestar in action

• Vocals

Ajnur Azizov - in Macedonian, Turkish and Roma

• Percussion

Saban Jasarov

• Tuba

Redzai Durmisev

Nijazi Alimov

Sukri Zejnelov

Suad Asanov

• Saxophone

Durak Demirov

• Trumpet

Turan Gaberov

Sukri Kadriev

• Clarinet

Dzeladin Demirov^[5]

• Accordion

Vinko Stefanov

See also

• Balkan Music
• Esma Redžepova
• Romani music
• Romani people
• Music of North Macedonia

References

1. "Loading..." www.welove-music.net.
2. "King Naat Veliov". Discogs.
3. "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006)" – via www.imdb.com.
4. DISCS, CRAMMED. "CRAMMED DISCS: Kocani Orkestar - The Ravished Bride". www.crammed.be.
5. http://www.divanoprod.com/ViewPage.aspx 2010-08-01 at the Wayback Machine Main page -> Kocani Orkestar -> the group

External links

• Koçani Orkestar pages on the Crammed Discs label site
• Kočani Orkestar Myspace page