Duško Gojkovic
Encyclopedia
Duško Gojković is a Serbian jazz trumpeter and composer.
He studied in Belgrade
Music Academy from 1948 to 1953. He played trumpet in a number of jazz Dixieland
bands and, though only 18 years of age, joined Big Band of Radio Belgrade
. After five years spent there he grew into a seasoned musician and decided to continue his career in West Germany
.
In 1956 he recorded his first LP as a member of Frankfurt All Stars band. Next four years he spent as a member of Kurt Edelhagen
’s orchestra as a first trumpet. In these years he played with legends such as Chet Baker
or Stan Getz
. In 1958 he performed at Newport Jazz Festival
and drew much attention on both sides of the Ocean.
In 1961 he was offered a scholarship for the studies of composing and arranging in Berklee. He took the offer and finished the studies.
After the studies he was invited by Canadian band leader Maynard Ferguson
to join his band. Gojković performed as a second trumpet until the break of the band in 1964. His work with Ferguson boosted his reputation as an excellent big band musician and an outstanding soloist.
Next he returned to Europe, formed his sextet and in 1964 recorded his first album Swinging Macedonia, with music he originally composed inspired by the music of Balkans. The album is generally considered to be the cornerstone of Balkan Jazz
.
In the years to follow he played with Miles Davis
, Dizzy Gillespie
, Gerry Mulligan
, Sonny Rollins
, Duke Jordan
, Slide Hampton
etc. In 1966 he continued his career in The Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland Big Band
. In 1968 he settled in Munich
and formed his own big band with artists such as Rolf Ericsson and Frank St Peter that lasted until 1976.
In 1986 he managed to form another orchestra with which he performs to this day. His much awaited comeback came with the 1993 Soul Connection album that won him a broad acclaim. This was followed with album Bebop City. In 1996 he recorded the Soul Collection album again but this time with his own big band. Another great album came in 1997 – Balkan Blue, a double CD: first one a quintet with Italian sax player Gianni Basso while the second one features orchestra of the North German Radio (NDR) accompanied by the jazz rhythm section and Gojković as a soloist. His next album was In My Dreams (2001) recorded with his quartet.
In 2003 Gojković opened a new chapter in his career with his album Samba do Mar, in which he composes for the first time inspired by Latin music. In 2004 he performed on the 200th anniversary of modern Serbian statehood, the opportunity he used to gather in Belgrade international All Star Big Bend with whom he recorded A Handful of Soul CD.
His last album Samba Tzigane came out in 2006.
Gojković celebrated his 75th birthday with a grand concert in Belgrade
.
During his career Gojković built his own style recognizable for the preciseness, brilliance of his technique and warm sound in playing as well as melodic tunes in composing.
He studied in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
Music Academy from 1948 to 1953. He played trumpet in a number of jazz Dixieland
Dixieland
Dixieland music, sometimes referred to as Hot jazz, Early Jazz or New Orleans jazz, is a style of jazz music which developed in New Orleans at the start of the 20th century, and was spread to Chicago and New York City by New Orleans bands in the 1910s.Well-known jazz standard songs from the...
bands and, though only 18 years of age, joined Big Band of Radio Belgrade
Radio Belgrade
Radio Belgrade is a state-owned and operated radio station in Belgrade, Serbia.The predecessor of Radio Beograd, Radio Beograd-Rakovica, started its program in 1924 and was a part of a state wireless telegraph station. Radio Beograd, AD started in March 1929...
. After five years spent there he grew into a seasoned musician and decided to continue his career in West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
.
In 1956 he recorded his first LP as a member of Frankfurt All Stars band. Next four years he spent as a member of Kurt Edelhagen
Kurt Edelhagen
Kurt Edelhagen, born 5 June 1920 in Herne, died 8 February 1982 in Köln, was a major European big band leader throughout the 1950s.After having studied clarinet and piano in Essen, he set up his multicultural big band, which over the years would include many big names in jazz in Europe, including...
’s orchestra as a first trumpet. In these years he played with legends such as Chet Baker
Chet Baker
Chesney Henry "Chet" Baker, Jr. was an American jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist and singer.Though his music earned him a large following , Baker's popularity was due in part to his "matinee idol-beauty" and "well-publicized drug habit."He died in 1988 in Amsterdam, the...
or Stan Getz
Stan Getz
Stanley Getz was an American jazz saxophone player. Getz was known as "The Sound" because of his warm, lyrical tone, his prime influence being the wispy, mellow timbre of his idol, Lester Young. Coming to prominence in the late 1940s with Woody Herman's big band, Getz is described by critic Scott...
. In 1958 he performed at Newport Jazz Festival
Newport Jazz Festival
The Newport Jazz Festival is a music festival held every summer in Newport, Rhode Island, USA. It was established in 1954 by socialite Elaine Lorillard, who, together with husband Louis Lorillard, financed the festival for many years. The couple hired jazz impresario George Wein to organize the...
and drew much attention on both sides of the Ocean.
In 1961 he was offered a scholarship for the studies of composing and arranging in Berklee. He took the offer and finished the studies.
After the studies he was invited by Canadian band leader Maynard Ferguson
Maynard Ferguson
Maynard Ferguson was a Canadian jazz musician and bandleader. He came to prominence playing in Stan Kenton's orchestra, before forming his own band in 1957...
to join his band. Gojković performed as a second trumpet until the break of the band in 1964. His work with Ferguson boosted his reputation as an excellent big band musician and an outstanding soloist.
Next he returned to Europe, formed his sextet and in 1964 recorded his first album Swinging Macedonia, with music he originally composed inspired by the music of Balkans. The album is generally considered to be the cornerstone of Balkan Jazz
Balkan jazz
Balkan jazz is jazz from the Balkans Region of southern Europe. Duško Gojković is considered one of the pioneers of Balkan Jazz, a fusion of Balkan music which welcomes improvisation and originality, much like American Jazz....
.
In the years to follow he played with Miles Davis
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
, Dizzy Gillespie
Dizzy Gillespie
John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie was an American jazz trumpet player, bandleader, singer, and composer dubbed "the sound of surprise".Together with Charlie Parker, he was a major figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz...
, Gerry Mulligan
Gerry Mulligan
Gerald Joseph "Gerry" Mulligan was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, composer and arranger. Though Mulligan is primarily known as one of the leading baritone saxophonists in jazz history – playing the instrument with a light and airy tone in the era of cool jazz – he was also...
, Sonny Rollins
Sonny Rollins
Theodore Walter "Sonny" Rollins is a Grammy-winning American jazz tenor saxophonist. Rollins is widely recognized as one of the most important and influential jazz musicians. A number of his compositions, including "St...
, Duke Jordan
Duke Jordan
Irving Sidney "Duke" Jordan was an American jazz pianist.-Biography:An imaginative and gifted pianist, Jordan was a regular member of Charlie Parker's so-called "classic quintet" , featuring Miles Davis...
, Slide Hampton
Slide Hampton
Locksley Wellington "Slide" Hampton is an American jazz trombonist, composer and arranger.He was a 1998 Grammy Award winner for "Best Jazz Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist", as arranger for "Cotton Tail" performed by Dee Dee Bridgewater...
etc. In 1966 he continued his career in The Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland Big Band
The Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland Big Band
The Kenny Clarke–Francy Boland Big Band was one of the most noteworthy jazz big bands formed outside the United States.It was formed in 1961, when, with the help of producer Gigi Campi, the US drummer Kenny Clarke and Belgian pianist and composer Francy Boland and ex-Ellington bassist Jimmy Woode...
. In 1968 he settled in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
and formed his own big band with artists such as Rolf Ericsson and Frank St Peter that lasted until 1976.
In 1986 he managed to form another orchestra with which he performs to this day. His much awaited comeback came with the 1993 Soul Connection album that won him a broad acclaim. This was followed with album Bebop City. In 1996 he recorded the Soul Collection album again but this time with his own big band. Another great album came in 1997 – Balkan Blue, a double CD: first one a quintet with Italian sax player Gianni Basso while the second one features orchestra of the North German Radio (NDR) accompanied by the jazz rhythm section and Gojković as a soloist. His next album was In My Dreams (2001) recorded with his quartet.
In 2003 Gojković opened a new chapter in his career with his album Samba do Mar, in which he composes for the first time inspired by Latin music. In 2004 he performed on the 200th anniversary of modern Serbian statehood, the opportunity he used to gather in Belgrade international All Star Big Bend with whom he recorded A Handful of Soul CD.
His last album Samba Tzigane came out in 2006.
Gojković celebrated his 75th birthday with a grand concert in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
.
During his career Gojković built his own style recognizable for the preciseness, brilliance of his technique and warm sound in playing as well as melodic tunes in composing.
Discography
- Belgrade Blues (with Sal NisticoSal NisticoSal Nistico, born Salvatore Nistico 2 April 1938 in Syracuse , died 3 March 1991 in Berne, Switzerland, was a jazz tenor saxophonist....
and Carl FontanaCarl FontanaCarl Charles Fontana was an American jazz trombonist. Because Fontana rarely recorded under his own name and toured only occasionally after 1958, he is significantly less famous among mainstream jazz fans, although well-known amongst trombonists.-Birth to 1958:Born in Monroe, Louisiana, Fontana...
), RTB (Produkcija gramofonskih plocha Radio-televizije Beograd), 1966 - Swinging Macedonia (with Nathan Davis, Eddie Busnello, Mal WaldronMal WaldronMalcolm Earl Waldron was an American jazz and world music pianist and composer, born in New York City.Like his contemporaries, Waldron's roots lie chiefly in the hard bop and post-bop genres of the New York club scene of the 1950s; but with time, he gravitated more towards free jazz and composition...
, Peter Trunk and Cees See u. a.), Enja, 1966 - Take Me in Your Arms (1966)
- As Simple As It Is (with Ferdinand Povel, Larry Vuckovich, Isla Eckinger, Clarence Eckinger), BASF, 1970
- It's About Blues Time (1971)
- Emergency: Emergency (u. a. mit Hanus Berka) 1971
- Ten To Two Blues (1971) (with Tete MontoliuTete MontoliuTete Montoliu was a jazz pianist from Catalonia, Spain. His real name was Vicenç Montoliu i Massana.- Biography :He was born blind, in the Eixample district of Barcelona, and died in the same city....
, Rob Landereis, Joe Nay) - After Hours (1971) (with Tete MontoliuTete MontoliuTete Montoliu was a jazz pianist from Catalonia, Spain. His real name was Vicenç Montoliu i Massana.- Biography :He was born blind, in the Eixample district of Barcelona, and died in the same city....
, Rob Langereis, Joe Nay) - Slavic Mood (1974)
- Wunderhorn (1977) (with Roland Kovac)
- Trumpets & Rhythm Unit (1979)
- Blues in the Gutter (1983)
- Snap Shot (1983)
- Celebration (DIW, 1987) with Kenny DrewKenny DrewKenneth Sidney "Kenny" Drew was an American jazz pianist.-Biography:Born in New York City, New York, he first recorded with Howard McGhee in 1949, and over the next two years recorded with Buddy DeFranco, Coleman Hawkins, Milt Jackson, Charlie Parker, Buddy Rich, and Dinah Washington...
, Jimmy WoodeJimmy WoodeJimmy Woode was a jazz bassist. His father, also named Jimmy Woode, was a music teacher and pianist who played with Hot Lips Page...
, Al Lewitt - Balkan Blue (u. a. with Wolfgang Schlüter) 1992/1994
- Soul Connection (1994)
- Bebop City (1995)
- Balkan Connection (1996)
- Portrait (2001) (all unreleased with Kenny BarronKenny BarronKenny Barron , is an American jazz pianist. He is the younger brother of tenor saxophonist Bill Barron, and known for his lyrical, adaptive style.-Biography:...
, Tommy FlanaganTommy FlanaganThomas Lee Flanagan was an American jazz pianist born in Detroit, Michigan, particularly remembered for his work with Ella Fitzgerald...
, Eddie GomezEddie GomezEdgar "Eddie" Gómez is a Puerto Rican jazz double bassist born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, perhaps most notable for his work done with the Bill Evans trio from 1966 to 1977.-Biography:...
, Jimmy HeathJimmy HeathJames Edward Heath , nicknamed Little Bird, is an American jazz saxophonist, composer and arranger. He is the brother of bassist Percy Heath and drummer Albert Heath.-Biography:...
, Oscar PettifordOscar PettifordOscar Pettiford was an American jazz double bassist, cellist and composer known particularly for his pioneering work in bebop.-Biography:...
and others) - In My Dreams (2001)
- East of Montenegro (live) (2003) (recorded live at Belgrade Jazz Festival, November, 1975.)
- Samba Do Mar (2003)
- A Handful o' Soul (2005)
- Samba Tzigane (2006)