The compilation “25 godina rada” (25 Years of Work) offers a retrospective insight into the diverse and genre-spanning oeuvre of Vasil Hadžimanov, one of the most significant figures of the regional jazz and fusion scene. Rather than presenting a conventional VH Band “greatest hits” collection, the release gathers music created through various projects – from the trio Sveti with Marko Đorđević, collaborations with Toni Kitanovski and the Bace Quartet, to the duo with pianist Bojan Z and joint performances with his daughter Marta. As Nenad Georgievski points out, Vasil’s success cannot be measured by chart rankings, but by music “that remains and that draws people back to concerts, again and again.” His musical language intertwines jazz improvisation, rock energy and Balkan melodic sensibility, strongly influenced by the fusion aesthetics of Joe Zawinul. Particularly notable are projects that reveal different facets of his artistry – from the more traditional jazz trio setting (“El Raval”), to the pan-global vision of the Bace Quartet, as well as the subtle improvisational dialogue with Bojan Z in the piece “Ohrid”. This compilation confirms the breadth of Hadžimanov’s artistic interests and the consistency of his creative credibility, offering a representative overview of twenty-five years of work by an author committed to the bold and exploratory spirit of jazz.

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