The Sound of the Balkans, Music that transcends boundaries and Divisions

AlmaNova with Matt, live at Coffee Gallery Backstage Altadena,CA

AlmaNova in Altadena: Wednesday, Oct. 27th

Dear Friends,

Please join us for a memorable night of music at the legendary Coffee Gallery Backstage!!! AlmaNova will be performing with percussionist-extraordinaire, Matt Hillegass. It will be a great night of exciting music...hope to see you there!

Help support local live music!!!!!

Here are the details:

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27 @ 8pm

$15.00

The Coffee Gallery Backstage
2029 N. Lake Ave.
Altadena, CA 91001
Reservations/Information: (626)794-2424

Duo Tapas from New Zealand performing Almer's "Jamilla's Dance" and "Sarajevo Nights"

Concerts in October: Bay Area and Southern California Performances!

We hope you can join us!

Wednesday, October 13th
12 noon
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara, CA

Thursday, October 14th
8pm
Concerts at Old St. Hilary's
Tiburon, CA

Sunday, October 24th
5pm
Epiphany Music Guild
Oak Park, CA

Wednesday, October 27th (with Matt Hillegass, percussion)
8pm
The Coffee Gallery Backstage
Altadena, CA

Review of "After Hours" in SOUNDBOARD Magazine

Review of After Hours from AlmaNova (Jessica Pierce, flute and Almer Imamovic, guitar)

Two earlier discs by AlmaNova were well received here and this one is also very engaging. Much of it involves the infectious mixed meters of Imamovic’s native Balkan region, but there are also pieces of a very intense, sinuous and melodic beauty. Some are original works by the duo while others are arrangements. It all holds together very well. It begins with Bosna Nova (no, it’s not a misprint) with the guitarist multi-tracked on steel string and classical guitars, a texture used repeatedly and effectively on the disc. (The flute is also multi-tracked occasionally.) Among my favorite cuts are the fourth, Zajdi, Zajdi, a hauntingly beautiful melody, and the sixth, Jovano, Jovanke, which the notes call “a highly energetic arrangement of an old traditional Macedonian folk song.” Yes, indeed. The energy is aided by very nice percussion work by the guitar. Massimo Dancing, inspired by the artist’s nephew, is another gem. These are very sophisticated arrangements for flute(s), guitar(s), and percussion: the musical structures, though miniature, are impressive. Liner notes and recording quality are fine. I enjoyed this disc very much. In fact, it made me want to grab the guitar and start improvising in 7/x. Luckily there was no one to hear the result!

By: Al Kunze
Soundboard, vol. XXXV, No. 3, pg. 117

AlmaNova in Tiburon, CA Oct. 14th @ 8pm!

Almer Imamovic "Putnik s gitarom" by Milenko Miso Maric

ALMER IMAMOVIĆ
Milenko Mišo Marić

Almer Imamović Putnik s gitarom

Almer Imamović je gitarista. Imamović je od rođenja, a gitarista od osme godine. I po prezimenu i po instrumentu asocijacije su jednako muzičke. Na pomen Imamovića čujem Zaima kako sevdiše kraj tanana šadrvana. Il' objašnjava zašto je Bosna divna, mila... Plemenita. Na pomen gitare čujem španske Berbere s dugim prstima kako prebiraju po žicama pod džinovskom narančom Mjeseca, nad Andaluzijom. Dok zaljubljen Lorkin Gitano nosi dragu na rijeku. Niko ne zna šta mu je rekla. Sigurno je da su se ljiljani mačevali s vjetrom i da su sevdisali. Jer kojeg bi je vraga nosio na rijeku dok se negdje daleko za noćnom vodom gitara sjećala Alhambre. "Oh, gitaro/ srce ranjeno/ sa pet mačeva./" - uzdisao je Lorka. "Sve što radim je vezano za gitaru. Lijepo je imati uz sebe, putovati i živjeti uz gitaru", kaže Almer dok u Los Anđelosu završava novi CD i s dvije svoje najveće ljubavi, Džesikom i gitarom sprema put treće, Bosne. Iz koje je, s gitarom, krenuo u svijet.

O zavičaju, gitari i sevdahu govori:
- Mislim da smo svi mi Bosanci i Hercegovci sevdah porodica. S puno topline se sjeæam familijarnih sijela uz harmoniku i sevdalinke. Moj otac Alija je izvanredan pjevač i pjesma je uvijek bila prisutna u našem domu. Ja sam na početku izabrao gitaru da sviram rock sa prijateljima. Krenuo sam u Nižu muzičku školu u Foči, zavolio gitaru i muziku svim srcem. Pored klasične svirao sam i bass gitaru u KUD "Braća Ribar" što mi je jako pomoglo u razumjevanju harmonije, različitih ritamskih paterna, specifično iz Makedonije, jer smo svirali muziku iz cijele ex-Jugoslavije. Stekao sam bogato iskustvo svirajući koncerte svake sedmice. Onda je došao rat koji sam s familijom proveo u herojskom Goraždu. Imao sam puno prijatelja i bio vezan za muzičku produkciju. Snimili smo preko 200 pjesama. Uz sve strahote rata muzika je uvijek bila prisutna i počeo sam komponovati. Uradio sam muziku za pozorišnu predstavu, preko 20 pjesama i nekoliko solo klasičnih kompozicija. Kad govorim ko sam moram pomenuti moju dragu profesoricu Milu Rakanović koja je zaslužna za nastavak mog školovanja i jako važna osoba u mom životu. Ranih devedesetih u Sarajevu je bila samo Srednja muzička škola sa odsjekom za klasičnu gitaru, bez gitarističkog odsjeka na Muzičkoj akademiji. Tu sam studirao kod profesorice Mile koja je vodila i Ansambl Gitara u kojem sam svirao sa pedesetak gitarista i prijatelja što je neprocjenjivo za muzičara. Nauči se svirati kamerna muzika i shvati značaj timskog rada. Ova iskustva su mi omogućila da budem bolji muzičar - gitarista i da razumijem značaj organizacije i profesionalizma što je jako važno ovdje u Americi.

Od Foče preko rata i Sarajeva do Amerike, nije cigar puta. Po svetim knjigama: čudni su putevi gospodnji. Nakon što je hodoljubio njima, Zuko mi je pričao da su asfaltirani. Iskusio sam da su putevi izbjeglički rđavi, opasni, neizvjesni. Putevi Almerovi su ljepši. Notni.
- Imao sam sreću da sa 14 godina snimam u Velikom studiju BH televizije ili sviram koncert u centru Žorž Pompidu (Georges Pompidou) u Parizu. Gdje sam otišao '97. da studiram na Ecole Normale de Musique u klasi profesora Rafael Andia. Francuska Ambasada iz Sarajeva obezbjedila mi je francusku državnu stipendiju. Možete zamisliti moju sreću i radost kad sam krenuo u Pariz. Naučio sam jezik, stekao puno prijatelja i svirao koncerte širom Evrope. I ono najljepše: upoznao Džesiku Pirs (Jessica Pierce), studentkinju flaute. Poslije toga dolazi magisterski studij na Royal College of Music u Kardifu kod profesora Džona Milsa (John Mills) a školarinu sam dobio od Akademije. Maestro Mils je bio izvanredan profesor i prijatelj. Po magisteriju odlazim u Los Anđelos na postdiplomske studije na Univerzitetu Južne Kalifornije (USC) kod profesora Skota Tenanta (Scott Tennant) i Maestro Pepe Romero. Los Anđelos je centar svijeta za filmsku i muzičku industriju tako da su najbolji muzičari u gradu fenomenalni. Počeo sam da sviram gitare i druge žičane instrumente za filmove i sarađujem sa velikim brojem muzičara. I ovdje sam spustio sidro i ostao da živim i stvaram. Rekoh vam da sam u Parizu upoznao Džesiku . To je bilo prije deset godina i evo još uvijek sviramo i uživamo u našoj muzičkoj avanturi. Tek prije pet godina smo počeli ozbiljno da sviramo kao duo AlmaNova i snimili 3 CD-a. Prelijepo je svirati sa Džesikom koja je izvanredan muzičar i iznad svega divan životni partner. Još draža mi je što je veliki zaljubljenik u Bosnu i sevdalinke. Kad navratite kod nas uvijek će vas dočekati Zaim ili Himzo. Ta ljubav prema sevdalinci se može čuti na našem prvom CD-u "Debut" gdje sviramo nekoliko u našim obradama.

Debitantski CD životnog i muzičkog dua AlmaNova (čitati kao AlmerJessica) ušao je u izbor za Instrumentalni Album 2009. godine u US. U konkurenciji 42 hiljade albuma iz 160 zemalja svijeta, proglašen najboljim. Čestitam Almeru, Džesika se podrazumijeva, a pitam kako doživljava nagrade.
- Ovdje su jako važna gitaristička takmičenja. Ja nisam imao vremena da putujem i radim takmičenja punom parom ali gdje sam otišao ostvario sam dobre rezultate. Osvojio sam, recimo, prvo mjesto na veoma uglednom takmičenju Fresno International u konkurenciji najboljih gitarista iz 20 zemalja. Moj profesor Tenant bio je u publici. Nakon izvedbe dođe i samo kratko kaže: "Hej, čovječe, ti stvarno možeš fantastično svirati gitaru" što mi je bilo draže i od same pobjede. Ja personalno nisam takmičarskog duha kad je riječ o gitari tako da takmičenja gledam kao specifične koncerte i onda mi je lakše da se koncentrišem i sviram bez pritiska. Ako već treba oko nagrada da pomenem naš album "Classic Giuliani". Ugledni American Record Guide nagradio nas je sa Critic’s Choice 2008. a moju kompozicija "Sarajevo Nights" JPF (Udruženje 51.500 kompozitora i muzičkih autoriteta) je u Nešvilu (Nashville - domaćin najpoznatijeg Festivala country muzike na svijetu) proglasio za najbolju Originalnu Instrumentalnu Kompoziciju 2009. godine. Što me, dabome, čini sretnim. Sad imam puno studenata koje spremam za takmičenja čiji me uspijeh raduje kao sopstveni. Sa studentima sam počeo raditi kao asistent na Royal College of Music i na USC, a trenutno radim na privatnom Konzervatoriju u Južnoj Pasadini gdje sam profesor gitare i Direktor gitarističkog odsjeka. Imam odlične studente. Prije 6 mjeseci bilo je međunarodno takmičenje ovdje, u Los Anđelosu. Od pet nagrada moji studenti su osvojili tri.

Interesujem se šta je najrađe: kompozitor, tumač svog i tuđeg djela, il' muzički pedagog? (Članstvo u AlmaNova ne pominjem, smatram ga van konkurencije a preporučujem poznanstvo na internet adresi: The AlmaNova Duo - http://www.almanova.us/ - što je prečica do umjetnosti i zavičaja).
- Humanista i kompozitor! Ima dobra rečenica u filmu Burn After Reading gdje glumac kaže: "Ja sam samo putnik na putu". A ja dodajem: "I uživam u tom procesu". Prije svega, ja sebe vidim kao muzičara i radim sve što me čini sretnim. Ja nikad nisam umoran od muzike i gitare i ako mogu pomoći mojim studentima i pokazati nekoliko "trikova" onda sam još sretniji. Uzgred, moram vam reći da se rado sjetim Montenove i vaše pjesme "Gitaro moja" jer se mogu poistovjetiti sa njenim štimungom.

Iščitah kritike US muzičkih kritičara. Postoje dva mišljenja: jedni smatraju da je Maestro Almer Imamović rijedak, vrhunski talenat. Virtouz. Drugi se slažu s prvim. A i jedni i drugi u njegovim kompozicijama prepoznaju "zvuk rodne Bosne". Pitam: koliko je ostao vezan za zavičajne muzičke korijene i zavičaj kao geografski pojam?
- Trudim da bar jednom godišnje odem kući mada je ponekad to teško zbog obaveza, ali to ne utiče na prisustvo Bosne u mojoj muzici. Bosna je uvijek uz mene. Ja sam prije svega klasični gitarista, ali sam svirao i družio se sa izvarednim bh "narodnim" muzičarima. I što se kod nas kaže "naučio fazone". Naši muzičari sviraju sa dušom što je teško naći na Zapadu. Ovdje imaš probu ili koncert i svi sviraju notalno. Kad imaš note ispred sebe onda nema komunikacije između muzičara i čitav band je bez konekcije. Svaki naš bh muzičar memoriše 500-600 pjesama što je ogromno znanje. Za tako nešto ovdje ljudi dobijaju fakultetske diplome. To iskustvo mi je pomoglo da razvijem vezu sa našom muzikom i ubacim te "fazone" u moje kompozicije i svirku. To će uvijek biti uz mene i dio mene kao muzičara. Pored naše bosanske, jako volim i makedonske narodne pjesme što se može čuti na našem novom albumu "After Hours". Sad završavamo snimanje novog i pakujem se za Sarajevo. Jer moja karta je povratna, samo trebam potvrditi rezervaciju. Ovaj put imam koncert u Sarajevu i nekolika u Zenici i Tuzli. I susrete sa svojim najdražim. Sva moja bliža familja je u Bosni. Ali imam rodbine u Irskoj, Švedskoj, Americi. Ako imate prostora, molim vas da im prenesete puno pozdrava kao i čitaocima Barikade - svim zemljacima širom svijeta.

Tri posljednja oktobarska dana (2009.) Sarajevo je bilo domaćin naučno - umjetničkog skupa Dani BHAAAS (Bosanskohercegovačko Američka Akademija Nauka i Umjetnosti) pod nazivom "We are strionger together" - Zajedno smo jači. Trodnevna razmijena naučne i umjetničke misli svečano je završena gala koncertom Sarajevske filharmonije u Narodnom pozorištu. Solista na koncertu bio je član BHAAAS, elitni US klasični gitarista i opunomoćeni ambasador bh sevdaha u svijetu, Njegova Ekselencija Maestro Almer Imamović.

Opet čujem Zaima. Onu lijepo sjetnu, i usvjetnu: "Kada dođem rodnom kraju..."

From Barikada.com -World of Music

National Flute Convention 2010

We played a great concert last Saturday for the National Flute Convention's annual festivities! This year the convention was held in Anaheim so we didn't have too far to go! We saw many of our dear friends and fans and really had the best time playing with our percussionist extraordinaire, Matt Hillegass! Fresh from his trip to Africa, he enhanced our performance and really added something special. He was a huge hit and our concert was a big success! Special thanks to all who attended! We especially enjoyed meeting Mr. Abell from the Abell Flute Company, specializing in wooden flutes. I still have that sound of his special instruments in my ear....I am putting myself on his waiting list and am hoping to get one in a couple years! Flute World also held a CD signing at their booth. Almer's compositions were quite a hit with all the attendees!

Can't wait for the 2011 convention in North Carolina!

Zana Mesihovic and the Balkan Soul Orchestra

We had a great time last weekend performing with the wonderful singer/songwriter Zana Mesihovic and the talented James Brandon Lewis on sax. The concert was celebrating 50 years of music making at Capitol Records and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It was a great honor to perform at this historic and iconic building. Zana's music was infectious and the crowd outside loved her! We performed her hit, "If You're Wondering" that was in the film "The Lightkeepers" with Richard Dreyfuss. We can't wait until the next concert with this great ensemble. Keep an eye out announcing Zana's new CD that will feature AlmaNova!

Jose Oribe

As a classical guitarist, one of the greatest pleasures is to meet various luthiers and tour their workspace where they make their wonderful guitar masterpieces! I recently had the great fortune to meet with Mr. Jose Oribe. One of my students was in search of a guitar with a long scale and Oribe is one of the few luthiers who make this their practice. He lives and works just an hour north of San Diego with his wonderful wife, Juanita. His guitars and simply fantastic! His craftsmanship is of the highest level and it shines through upon hearing and playing his guitars. It was great to meet such a master in the Los Angeles area. My student is extremely pleased with his Oribe guitar and I hope to have one as well in the near future!

AlmaNova on YouTube! (with 2 versions of Ikindija)

Two Concerts this Saturday...

BUT, we will not be playing them together! Bummer!!!

For those of you in the Pasadena Area, please come see Almer play with the FABULOUS Zana Mesihovic and the Balkan Soul Orchestra. Almer is her special guest and they are performing in the annual Pasadena MakeMusic Festival.

Details:

Saturday, June 19th
6:30pm
Emerging Artist Stage
Make Music Pasadena

For those of you on the Westside, you can come to hear Jessica perform at the Live at the Lounge concert series in Hermosa Beach. She is happy to be a part of the West Coast premier of Stig Jonas Petterssen's opera, A Dream Play (Dromspel).

Details:

Saturday, June 19th
7:00pm Dinner (optional)
8:00pm Concert
Live at the Lounge
Hermosa Beach, CA

See you there!

Two New Reviews from U.K.'s Classical Guitar Magazine and Australia's Flute Focus!

Please read this great review of After Hours from Australia's premier flute magazine, Flute Focus written by Cathy Wainwright on May 21, 2010.

Alma Nova – After Hours

Jessica Pierce – Flute

Almer Imamovic – Guitar

http://www.almanovaduo.com

If you want to be inspired and uplifted then this is the album for you! The infectious rhythms and haunting melodies of folk tunes from Macedonia and Imamovic’s native Bosnia reflect the gamut of human emotion from sadness and pain to hope and belief in the future.

Flute and guitar duo Alma Nova present in this their third album, their own compositions and arrangements linking traditional folk themes of love, loss, sadness and the search for peace, tranquillity, and hope, with events in their own lives, giving the album a very personal focus and expression. The energy, passion and sincerity of the artists shine through in every track.

Every track has a freshness and a personal investment in the music which is sometimes missing in recordings of mainstream repertoire. The title After Hours expresses the idea that this is the music the artists choose to play when they have finished rehearsing or playing their ‘classical repertoire’ – truly music from the heart.

Flautist Jessica Pierce, a graduate of the famed Eçole Normale de Music de Paris, plays with effortlessly flowing melodic lines that range from sensuous to plaintive and wistful. Guitarist Almer Imamovic is likewise a master of his instrument, and together the pair form a perfectly balanced duo. Overdubbing of additional parts on some tracks adds to the depth and interest without compromising the balance.

But don’t take my word for it. Have a look at their attractively presented website where you can not only hear sound clips, but also follow links to YouTube videos of their performances. Their YouTube video of Massimo Dancing, with guest artist Jim Walker (Jessica’s current Doctorate supervisor) is fantastic! And if you are anywhere near the NFA Convention in Anaheim CA in August be sure to catch them performing there on the 14th.

This CD will certainly be an addition to my iPod!

Able Seaman Musician Cathy Wainwright is a Flautist with the Sydney Detachment of the Royal Australian Navy Band, and was one of the first group of women to serve in the Royal Australian Air Force Band. Cathy holds a MMus from the University of New South Wales, a Fellowship Diploma in Flute Performance from Trinity College, London, and has extensive flute teaching experience both privately and in schools.


Review from Classical Guitar Magazine, the U.K.'s premier guitar magazine.

AlmaNova: Debut

This duo met while studying at the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris and have toured North America, Mexico, France, Eastern Europe and the U.K.

This disc encompasses Imamovic's original compositions and arrangements of love songs from his native, Bosnia. Many of the tunes are instantly hummable, they have a musical simplicity which is charming and whether originals or arrangements, Imamovic has done an exceptional job throughout. Mixed in with the sentimental sounding tracks are several up-tempo ones which really get the feet tapping (especially notable being the final track where both players are, one assumes, double tracking) and a couple of well-played guitar solos, too. There is not really one low point in the whole program, all the pieces are of a most attractive nature and are well performed by this ably equipped duo.

The recording quality is of a high standard, the presentation lets the side down a little though with just a one-sheet insert containing little information about the duo of the music, for that, you have to visit their website.

-Steve Marsh, Classical Guitar Magazine, UK

Photos from the concert with Annette Bening, Rade Serbedzija and Miroslav Tadic