Dusko Gojkovic - Belgrade Blues (1961 & 1966 RTB ) (Cosmic Sounds CD)

A great CD that brings together 2 rare albums by Yugoslavian trumpeter Dusko Goykovich

This is to clear out the confusion about the Belgrade Blues album. In 1961 Dusko Gojkovic has recorded album simply called 'Dusko Gojkovic International Jazz Octet' featuring Kenny Clarke. It was recorded in Germany and producer was Alexsander Zivkovic. Album was released in Yugoslavia as a six tracks 10" on RTB label (It was re-released in 1999 on Cosmic Sounds on 12" LP and 45rpm)
In 1966 he recorded in Belgrade album called 'Belgrade Blues' featuring Sal Nistico and Carl Fontana. It was released on RTB label as a mini album with 4 tracks only on 12" LP and with a black and white cover. Pressing was pretty poor so album was soon pulled out from sale. (It was re-released by Cosmic Sounds in March 2001 on 12" LP only)
In 1973 RTB label from Belgrade re-released both of above albums on one 12" LP again under the title 'Belgrade Blues' and with a different cover (in colour). That is what caused a lot of confusion among collectors because RTB disregarded release number from original Belgrade Blues album and reused it again for this re-issue.
This Cosmic Sounds release is presenting here both albums and with the same cover as it was used for that 1973 re-release. These were the very first two albums by Dusko Gojkovic as a leader.

"! The International Jazz Octet album features Goykovich leading an all-star group that includes players that would later become partners in the Clarke Boland Big Band -- like Kenny Clarke, Francy Boland, Karl Drewo, and Derek Humble! Francy Boland handled the arrangements -- and in a way, this one sounds a lot like some of the classic MPS work of the CBBB from the 60s. There's a nice hard groove on most tracks, with sweet soloing by Dusko on the ballads -- and titles include "To Je Sve (That's All)", "La Campimania", "Doo Doosh", and "Mr. X". Belgrade Blues is a rare 1966 session that features Goykovich leading a sextet comprised of musicians who were playing in Woody Herman's mid 60s group -- Nat Pierce, Ronnie Zito, Sal Nistico, Carl Fontana, and Mike Moore -- and on this open-ended hardbop set, the group are given a lot more room to solo than they might on some of Herman's albums from the time. The solos of Nistico are especially great -- well-crafted, and sharply edged in a way that matches Goykovich's firey trumpet work "

01 LA CAMPIMANIA 3'50"
02 SUVISE SI LEPA (YOU'RE TOO BEAUTIFUL) 4'00"
03 USPAVANKA LISCA (LULLABY OF THE LEAVES) 3'00"
04 DOO-DOOSH 3'25"
05 MR. X 3'19"
06 TO JE SVE (THAT'S ALL) 3'04"
07 BELGRADE BLUES 6'12"
08 WEE 5'15"
09 IT'S THE TALK OF THE TOWN 4'29"
10 BE MY LOVE 7'51"

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Dusko Gojkovic / Kenny Clarke International Jazz Octet, (10") RTB LP 403

Dusko Gojkovic International Jazz Octet (1-6):

Dusko Gojkovic -tp, flugelhorn
Derek Humble alt sax
Karel Drewo tenor sax
Heinz Kretschmar bass clarinet
Bubi Aderhold baritone sax
Francy Boland piano
Jean Warland double bass
Kenny Clarke drums

Tracks 1-6 Recorded: 14. February, 1961 in Germany

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Dusko Gojkovic - Belgrade Blues RTB LPV4201 (12" EP) 1966

Dusko Gojkovic Sextet (7-10)

Dusko Gojkovic (tp, flugelhorn)
Sal Nistico (tenor sax)
Carl Fontana (trombone)
Nat Pierce (piano)
Mike Moore (bass)
Ronnie Zito (drums)

Tracks 7-10 Recorded: 19. May, 1966 in Belgrade, Yugoslavia