When it comes to jazz it is difficult to avoid foreign words especially if you have to search for synonyms of jazzman, sideman, and bandleader. Saxophonist Dimitar Lyolev is all of that. Soloist, composer, arranger and stage partner in various projects, he always manages to achieve musical expression the “Bulgarian way" with strong Rhodope influence. His favorite mountain is also found in the title of his album "Rhodopolodgy.” He presents it together with Antoni Donchev - piano, Boris Taslev - bass and Borislav Petrov - drums.

Dimitar Lyolev was born in Plovdiv and is a graduate of the School of Music and the Music Academy in the city. In 2002 he continued his education in the Prins Claus Conservatorium in Groningen, the Netherlands. There he completed the "New York Comes to Groningen" program. While still a student he took a part at the prestigious "North Sea Jazz Festival" with his band Rakia. In 2005 he won second prize for soloist in the "Leidse Jazz Stad Competition" in Leiden, Netherlands. The same year he returned to Bulgaria and started working actively with the most famous names from the local stage - Theodosiy Spassov, Angel Zaberski Jr., Michail Iosifov, Hristo Yotzov, Stoyan Yankulov, Hilda Kazasyan, Lili Ivanova and others.

He has also been teaching at the Academy of Music in Plovdiv, and since 2012 he has been performing in the Big Band of the Bulgarian National Radio.

Dimitar got acquainted with the music born in the beautiful Rhodopes when he was a child. His father was a longtime conductor of the Rhodopes Ensemble in Smolyan. Prior to assuming the leadership of the famous orchestra Kostadin Lyolev worked with the Konushenski Orchestra - one of the most popular wedding bands. He also played the accordion, clarinet, composed and arranged pieces based on folklore. Growing up in this colorful environment, his son Dimitar showed interest in music from an early age. In high school he began playing the saxophone and already knew he was to focus on jazz.

“I think I was in the 12th grade of the music school when renowned jazz pianist Asen Doykin brought to school recording of saxophonist Branford Marsalis. I had listened to jazz previously but it was at that moment when I told myself: 'This is my music'.

During my training in the Netherlands I worked with lecturers from New York who are also active performers. I had the opportunity to play together with musicians from all around the world. When I came back to Bulgaria I managed to invite some of them to the July Jazz Festival in Smolyan. We were also guests to a number of Bulgarian cities.

The Rhodopolodgy album is actually my second album. Just two weeks ago an Italian label released another project of mine – “The Other Side” It was recorded together with drummer Mitko Semov, trumpet player Martin Tashev and a colleague of mine from Groningen - bassist Maximiliano Rolf.

I chose the name Rhodopolodgy because of my great love towards the Rhodope folklore and jazz music. My music is a result of combining those two styles. I believe in this music.”

In “Rhodopolodgy” Dimitar has used direct quotations from folk songs although some of them are little known such as "Petro le, Petrice” which the piece Rhodopolodgy is based on.

After the Sofia premiere of "Rhodopolodgy" in May, the album will be presented at the "A to Jazz" Festival in Varna in July and on several other stages across Bulgaria.

English: Alexander Markov