1.7.15

"Pod sjajem zvezda" by Vokalni kvartet Predraga Ivanovića




This is surprisingly brilliant vocal jazz album - compilation tribute - of famous Serbian vocal quartet found usually singing backing vocals behind biggest pop stars of 1960s. I noticed that these backing vocals were often overshadowing the main stars and was curious who were these people - to my biggest surprise, it turned out they were actually wonderful, absolutely in class with the  "Four freshmen","Hi Lo's" and "Les Double Six" or any of the international vocal jazz quartets. 

I had no previous knowledge of vocal jazz in Serbia - surely, influences from the west were often felt in popular music all over Ex Yu but it was kind of second-hand experience, we would follow what Italians did on San Remo and then later serve our versions to Russian market that was closed to original performers. During 1960s East Europe was a planet in itself. However, these guys and girls really did create beautiful music even if they were inspired by American songbooks - what they did here with "Witchcraft" or "Yesterdays" was pure magic, sophisticated and elegant, stunning harmonies, arrangements... everything works so well that it makes you wonder why they were not treated with respect and huge discography instead of occasional cameo as backing vocalists on other people's recordings. As it happened, this long out of print LP compilation is all that is left from this wonderful vocal quartet, apparently they were not mainstream enough to appeal to mass audiences brainwashed with Mexican and Greek folk music, neither they find their place on than-popular pop festivals. Stranded somewhere in between, they had no real place to shine and this long-forgotten LP now stands as a reminder that Belgrade once had artists of world caliber. 




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