BAJSA ARIFOVSKA FEAT. HARMELOGIC (North Macedonia, Slovenia)

Bajsa Arifovska, kaval, dude, tambura, clarinet, violin
Kris Korat, keyboards
Damir Mazrek, percussion

The encounter between the first lady of Balkan Romani instrumental music and an exceptional Slovenian duo opens a space between oral tradition and contemporary original expression. Their music unfolds as a subtle dialogue between improvisation and carefully structured composition, between the archaic modes of Balkan melodic practice and the modern sound idioms of jazz, Latin, and hip hop. The result is a singular soundscape that guides the listener from the intimate melos of Macedonian tradition into the broader world of global musical fusions, affirming tradition as an inexhaustible source of contemporary artistic invention.

Bajsa Arifovska is one of the most prominent representatives of the new generation of Macedonian musicians. She studied under Professor Dragan Dautovski and, as a member of his quartet, performed at numerous European and international festivals. As a multi-instrumentalist, Bajsa is an active figure in international world music and fusion scenes. She has appeared in countless concerts and television productions on Macedonian national broadcasting. She is also a regular collaborator and orchestra member of the Tanec National Ensemble for Folk Dances and Songs in Skopje. As a pedagogue, she contributes to various traditional music seminars, including Goran Alački’s annual Pearl Folk Seminar. Since 2003, she has also served as arranger and conductor of the Mandolin Orchestra at the “Darhia” Roma Cultural and Educational Center, with which she has carried out numerous projects and toured throughout the Balkans. Her discography includes several albums, and she has also composed the score for the ballet Broken Dream. Continuously recording, performing, and composing, Bajsa Arifovska stands today as one of Macedonia’s most acclaimed and sought-after musicians.

Harmelogic is a unique piano-percussion duo that offers an exciting fusion of authentic rhythmic structures, harmonic frameworks, and melodic themes. Their original compositions draw inspiration from diverse musical traditions, which Kris and Damir continue to explore and creatively expand. A decade of shaping their own musical language has resulted in a distinctive interplay between piano and percussion, making Harmelogic an artistic duo without parallel. While their music is deeply rooted in Balkan, Mediterranean, and African traditions, it is equally imbued with a contemporary sensibility, enriched by elements of jazz, blues, Latin, and hip hop. Coming from different musical backgrounds, the two musicians interweave and highlight their contrasting experiences in a highly creative way – which is why they titled their latest album Point of Views.

Admission free.

In collaboration with: Department of Musicology, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana, Association of Roma of Slovenia, Institute for Roma Studies, Education and Culture, Roma Academic Club