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CD - SVETI
(1995)
CD - LIVE KOLACH
(2001)
Marko Djordjevic
drums
Eli Degibri
tenor saxophone
Elliot Mason
valve trombone
Matt Pavolka
upright bass
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SVETI - For over ten
years SVETI has been the creative outlet for one of the most impressive
and innovative drummers in the world today, the Yugoslav-born
Marko Djordjevic. As the composer for SVETI, Marko writes music
inspired by his Balkan roots, enriched by the "western"
artists that have influenced him, from Weather Report to the Police;
Zappa to Coltrane; Mahavishnu to Ani DiFranco. The best description
of SVETI's sound came from a first-time audience member who remarked,
"You guys are like a jam band, except you have great melodies
and you can all play the hell out of your instruments!" The
list of people who have lent their talents to SVETI over the years
reads like a who is who of contemporary music: keyboradists Vasil
Hadzimanov, Marc Ziegenhagen, and Pete Rende, bass players Johnny
Sjo, Matt Garrison, Janek Gwizdala, vocalists Holly Palmer, Clara
Lofaro, guitarists Bato Andonov, Wayne Krantz, Rick Peckham, sax
players Jeff Ellwood, Chris Cheek, Bob Reynolds and trumpet players
Rossen Zahariev and Brad Mason. The evolution of the group's sound
is documented on two Benito Records releases; the self-titled
debut, SVETI, and the 2001 follow up, Live Kolach. Today, the
instrumentation of the group consists of upright bass, bass trumpet,
tenor saxophone and drums, played by some of the finest musicians
on the planet!
MARKO DJORDJEVIC - Born
in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, in 1972, Marko took up drums at the age
of 11 under the guidance of master teacher Miroslav Karlovic.
While studying at Stankovic Music high school, he performed with
the Belgrade Youth Symphony as well as the rock band Illusion,
receiving television and radio exposure through both. A child
prodigy, Marko wowed audiences at late-night jam sessions with
Belgrade's top jazz musicians. At the age of 16, Marko came to
the U.S.A on a scholarship to Berklee College of Music. In 1991,
he won the Berklee Zildjian award, given to one drum student each
year. Marko graduated from Berklee with honors in 1993 and was
invited to the school as a visiting artist, giving a clinic and
performance only three months later. Marko has performed and/or
recorded with Wayne Krantz (Steely Dan), Rick Margitza (Miles
Davis), Gregg Bissonette, George Garzone, Hal Crook, Matt Garrison
(Herbie Hancock), and many others. Extensive touring experience
includes the Tribulations, (sharing stage with Reggae Legends-
Ziggy Marley, The Wailers, Steel Pulse, Third World), Chris McDermott
(including Woodstock '99), a tour of Asia with Monochrome, and
European tours with SVETI and Jonah Smith. He has also performed
at numerous NAMM shows, and PAS Conventions as a featured artist
or a member of SIX DRUMSETS. Active as a studio drummer, his latest
works include Bree Sharp's Top 40 hit, "David Duchovny"
(Interscope), Jonah Smith's second album, Beneath the Underdog,
songwriter Clara Lofaro's debut, Night Light, Joe Zawinul guitarist
Amit Heri's new album, and Don Dilego's Lonestar Hitchhiker (Universal).
Currently, Marko is focusing much of his energy on his own group
SVETI, for which he writes original music inspired by the Yugoslav
folk tradition. SVETI performs regularly in NYC and have recently
released a live recording entitled SVETI live KOLACH. An endorser
of Mapex drums, Zildjian cymbals, Evans drumheads and Vater drumsticks,
Marko has been featured in articles and interviews in U.S. and
Europe's leading music publications such as Modern Drummer, Meggadrums
and Batteria Total. Major drum magazines carried Mapex advertisements
featuring him as their spokesman-clinician. Marko currently resides
in NYC, and in addition to a busy performance schedule, he teaches
private lessons to a select group of talented students.
- Marko Djordjevic brought the crowd to life at the Johnny Rabb
NAMM concert/party last summer in Nashville. The Yugoslavian-born
player won over the drum enthusiasts with his mix of impressive
chops, quick thinking, and sheer joy of playing. It was clear
to all in attendance that this guy is going to be a drumming star.
Djordjevic began studying with Miroslav Karlovic at an institute
for adult learning in Belgrade at the age of twelve. He was also
influenced by some of the older students there, who, surprisingly,
were into some of the same artists that students in the West are.
"The first solo I ever learned was Steve Gadd's 'Nite Sprite,'
from Chick Corea's Leprechaun record," Marko says. "They
also got me into the Mahavishnu Orchestra and Return To Forever.
I was soaking up all of that stuff and trying to catch up to them."
An American drummer performing in Belgrade, David Moss, pointed
Djordjevic towards the Berklee School of Music. Once he finished
his studies in Belgrade, Marko decided to audition for the famed
US music school. The young drummer so impressed the Berklee top
brass that they gave him a full scholarship. At Berklee, Djordjevic
started Sveti, an instrumental group that blends Eastern European
folk melodies and rhythms with hard-edged funk and fusion rhythms.
They recorded their first CD in 1995, and the group has continued
with a somewhat shifting lineup. "The latest incarnation
is special," Djordjevic says. "The musicians playing
in Sveti right now are not only young and enthusiastic, they're
also seasoned because of all of the great work they've done."
Robin Tolleson, Modern Drummer magazine
ELI DEGIBRI (tenor saxophone,
Israel) was a member of the legendary piano player Herbie Hancock's
group for two years, including a world tour and an album and DVD
available worldwide. He is currently a mainstay with the Charles
Mingus Big Band as well as a member of Al Foster's group. Eli's
huge sound is second to none and his solos take a listener on
a journey-sometimes a slow dirge cruise, sometimes a super-sonic
joy ride.
ELLIOT MASON (valve trombone,
England), a child prodigy, began playing professionally at the
age of 11. Today, at 26, simply put, he is one of the best trombone
players of our time. Elliot has performed with the Count Basie
Orchestra, Joe Zawinul, Airto, Slide Hampton, Natalie Cole, and
many others.
MATT PAVOLKA (upright
bass, U.S.A.) has performed with Kurt Rosenwinkel, Seamus Blake,
Jeff Ballard, and Mark Turner, among others. Matt is an upright
player equally at home as an accompanist and soloist, a rare find
even at the highest level of musicianship. Curiously, Matt and
Marko share the same birthday (Matt being 6 hours older). Born
on two different continents, they truly represent what SVETI is
about: a coming together of peers from different corners of the
world, in an effort to create something beautiful.
IN COLLABORATION WITH U.S.A. EMBASSY IN BELGRADE
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