JAZZ EVENING: KRISTO RODZEVSKI (N.Macedonia/USA) “Orthodoxia Kai Thanatos”

Kristo Rodzevski – lead vocals
Hristijan Monevski – vocal ison
Damjan Paloski – vocal ison
Andrea Mirceska – double bass (instrumental ison)
Oliver Josifovski – double bass (instrumental ison)

Kristo Rodzevski is a Macedonian-born vocalist, guitarist, and composer, who has been active in the downtown avant-garde scene since relocating to New York City in the late ’90s. After releasing his trilogy of “Batania” (2015), “Bitter Almonds” (2017), and “The Rabbit and the Fallen Sycamore” (2018), Rodzevski recorded “Hubris” (2020) followed by “Fair Weather Friends” (2022), „Black Earth” (2023) and „Krstena voda“ (2024). These are conceptual albums of insight-oriented lyrics and electroacoustic sound, infused with experimental and free jazz elements. His collaborators are some of the preeminent names of NY’s jazz-improv and experimental scene (Bill Laswell, Tomeka Reid, Kris Davis, Ikue Mori, Mary Halvorson, Ingrid Laubrock, Tomas Fujiwara, Kirk Knuffke, Chris Speed, etc.) as well as superb representatives of the modern Chicago scene (Jeff Parker, Nicole Mitchel, Ken Vandermark, etc.). Of note, four of these musicians are recipients of the MacArthur genius award. His work received highly positive reviews by The Wire, Downbeat, Avant Music, All About Jazz, Stereogum, etc. Downbeat included The Rabbit and the Fallen Sycamore in the list of best albums of 2018. The new, eighth release by Rodjevski, a double LP titled “Orthodoxia Kai Thanatos”, brings together compositions based on Byzantine chant, alongside remixes by Fennesz, Ikue Mori, Bill Laswell, Jos Smolders, Kevin Drumm, and Thomas Feldmann. The concert at the Church of Saint Sophia in Ohrid will represent the live premiere of this exceptionally valuable body of work.