Dimitar Liolev (7/01/1973) is a second generation professional musician. He is the son of Kostadin Liolev - an accordeonist, classical clarinetist, composer and arranger of Bulgarian folk music. Dimitar began studying music at age of five, and saxophone – at age sixteen. He is a graduate of both the Secondary Music School and the Academy of Music in Plovdiv, with piano and fagotto as his majors. His first professional experience followed over a ten year period of working as a musician in pubs, restaurants and wedding celebretaions, performing Bulgarian, Serbian, Turkish and Greek folk music, together with popular music and jazz.
2000: Dimitar became a member of the young folk-fusion band “Brainstorm”. The band performed at numerous jazz clubs, festivals, TV and radio shows across Bulgaria.
2002: accepted at the Prins Claus Conservatory in Groningen, the Netherlands. There he graduated from the “New York Comes To Groningen” program, under the expertise of such American and Dutch jazz educators, as: Ralph Peterson, Don Braden, David Berkman, Conrad Herwig, Brian Lynch, Dena DeRose, Joris Teepe, Miguel Martinez, Yuri Honing.
2004:reached the finals of the concours “Dutch Jazz Competition”, where he presented his first group “Rakia” on the stage of the prestigeous North Sea Jazz Festival.
2005: won second prize at the “Leidse jazz award” and was nominated for the 'outstanding young performer award': “Harten Aas jazz award”.
2006: established himself in Bulgaria and began a busy recording and performing career with some of the most recognized Bulgarian artist – Theodossi Spassov, Angel Zaberski Jr., Anthony Donchev, Mihail Yossiffov, Hristo Yotsov, Stoyan Yankoulov, Hilda Kazasyan, Lili Ivanova and many more. Started a number of projects under his leadership – a quartet, a quintet and a septet.
2008: Taught at the Academy of Music in Plovdiv. Currently, he is a member of the renown National Radio Big Band, the Brass Association Big Band and sat as a musical director of July Jazz Festival for a few years.
2013: Recorded his debut album “Rhodopology” in a quartet with Anthony Donchev, Boris Taslev and Borislav Petrov. Points the following Bulgarian artists as major musical influences: Kostadin Liolev, Theodosii Spassov, Ivo Papasov, Ivan Milev, Miltcho Leviev, Anthony Donchev, as well as the American legends: Charlie Parker, Sonny Stitt, John Coltrane, Michael Brecker, Kenny Garrett, Chris Potter, Miguel Zenon,erbie, David Binney, David Berkman, Herbie Hancock among others.
Awards
Nomination of the album"Rhodopology"for "Crystal Lyra"Award
for 2014 Bulgaria.
2005: won second prize at the “Leidse jazz award” and was
nominated for the 'outstanding young performer award':
“Harten Aas jazz award”Holland.
2004:reached the finals of the concours “Dutch Jazz
Competition”, where he presented his first group “Rakia” on
the stage of the prestigeous North Sea Jazz Festival.
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.
Read more
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
Radio Bulgaria Music
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