
Theodosii Spassov Folk Quintet
US/Canada concert tour - September 23 - October 7, 2023
The concerts of Theodosii Spassov Folk Quintet are dedicated to the 120th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and the USA.
The stellar musicians of the quintet include: Theodossi Spassov (kaval and voice), Peyo Peev (gadulka), Ivan Georgiev (gaida), Hristyan Tsvyatkov (tambura, guitar), Genadi Rashkov (tupan).
Theodossi Spassov is a virtuoso and eclectic kaval (wooden flute) artist and composer with roots in Bulgarian traditional music. He has nevertheless ventured out of the confines of folk music to embrace jazz, art music, and electronic dance music through collaborations with Bulgarian and non-Bulgarian performers, and through compositional endeavours. He is a well-respected and widely acclaimed artist at home and abroad who was designated as an Artist for Peace by UNESCO in 2015, not only for his innovative artistry, but also for his "commitment to raise public awareness about music as a force to enhance dialogue among people, cultures, and communities."
Spassov is a brilliant improviser and technician who explores the full potential of the kaval using extended techniques to produce sounds atypical of the formerly rural instrument, thus elevating its status through the creation of a myriad of soundscapes and a dynamic palette of tone colours.
For over 20 years, Theodosii has toured all over Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Australia, Canada and the United States. In 1994, he performed with Sofia Women's Radio Choir which was awarded with a Grammy award for "Le Mystere Des Voix Bulgares".
Theodosii Spassov has contributed to 20 CDs, four of his own, which have been noted worldwide. He has composed and performed numerous film scores, symphony orchestra works and he recorded themes for films by Italian composers Carlos Siliotto and Ennio Morricone,. At the fourth European Jazz Night, Theodosii Spassov was a featured performer along with other jazz musicians, including Winton Marsalis.
Artists he has also worked with include: Jazz Linia, “Le Mystere des Voix Bulgares”, Trio “Bulgarka”, National Radio Sofia Orchestras, Ivo Papazov, Yldiz Ibrahimova, Vesselin Nikolov, Milcho Leviev, Acoustic Version, Dave Liebman, Dimitrios Vassilakis, Andy Sheppard, Jamey Haddad, Albert Mangelsdorf, Mark Johnson, Trilok Gurtu, Kazumi Watanabe, Glen Velez, Rabih Abou-Khalil, Matt Darriau, Boyan Zulfikarpasic, Dionisis Savopulos, Paul McCandless, Glen Moore, Billy Cobham, The Shin, Ennio Morricone, Vlatko Stefanovski, Miroslav Tadić, Mino Cinelu and others.
He has been invited to numerous international jazz festivals including Montreal Jazz Festival, Transilvania Jazz Festival, Paradise Jazz Festival, TD Toronto Jazz Festival and many more.
The "Theodosii Spassov Folk Quintet" was created to present the beauty and cultural uniqueness of Bulgarian folklore around the world. The talented members of the band have worked together on a number of projects and all have long-term connections to the internationally renowned Filip Kutev National Folk Song and Dance Ensemble, and the women's choir, "The Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices''(Le Mystere des Voix Bulgares). The musicians include Peyo Peev (gadulka), Ivan Georgiev (gaida), Hristyan Tsvyatkov (tambura, guitar), Genadi Rashkov (tupan), and Theodossi Spassov (kaval and voice). Concerts by this ensemble include both traditional and more contemporary, original, and innovative renditions of Bulgarian folk music.