Blato Zlato (“Swamp Gold” in Bulgarian) is a New Orleans-based Balkan band featuring close three-part vocal harmonies and hard-hitting instrumentals.

Formed in 2015, the band performs folk and composed music from the Balkans and Eastern Europe, with a particular focus on Bulgarian songs and improvisational, dreamy, full-energy arrangements.

Their debut album, Swamp Gold, features traditional Bulgarian and Eastern European melodies interpreted through languid, dark arrangements and improvisational continuous transitions.

Lou Carrig – accordion, vocals, Ian Cook – violin, Annalisa Kelly – vocals, Pete Olynciw – upright bass, Ruby Ross – vocals, Boyanna Trayanova – percussion.

$15 or $10 digital at Bandcamp. Blato Zlato website

Cocek! Brass Band is a 5-piece ensemble from Boston, Mass., playing all original compositions. Members are Sam Dechenne – trumpet/vocals/composer, Ezra Weller – flugelhorn, Clayton DeWalt – trombone, Jim Gray – tuba, and Grant Smith – tapan. The music is influenced by Eastern European and New Orleans dance songs, Afrobeat, Klezmer and elements of reggae and Western classical pieces.

$10 digital at Bandcamp.

Izvora, the Nightingale Trio's second full-length release, is rich with nuance and fire, and includes dazzling arrangements of ancient songs from Bulgaria, Macedonia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Russia and the Republic of Georgia. The 13-track album is more richly produced than the Trio’s 2013 release Letya, and demonstrates the trio’s growing mastery and confidence as emissaries of the new Balkan folk sound.

An emerging force on the global folk music scene, the Nightingale Trio serves as emissaries of the deep women's folk tradition from Eastern Europe and the Balkans. Nila Bala, Rachel LaViola, and Sarah Larsson.

$9 digital at Bandcamp.

A creative re-imagination of a classic recording, capturing the essence of the Ellington Orchestra’s timeless sound while offering new arrangements and a refreshing liveliness.

John Carlson – trumpet, Kenny Warren – trumpet, Peter Hess – saxophone, clarinet, Peter Stan – accordion, Matt Musselman – Trombone, Tim Vaughn – Trombone, Ron Caswell – Tuba, Chris Stromquist – Snare / Percussion, Matt Moran – Tapan / Goč / Bubanj.

$10 digital at Bandcamp

True Life Trio and multi-instrumentalist Gari Hegedus have woven a tapestry of Eastern European folk songs, original compositions, and poetry that reflects the memories of human experience over the span of a lifetime. Co-produced by Eric Oberthaler, this ambitious and exciting album is a musical immersion that travels through Eastern Europe and the Balkans.

True Life Trio is Leslie Bonnett – voice, fiddle, percussion; Briget Boyle – voice, guitar, percussion; and Juliana Graffagna – voice, accordion, percussion.

$15 or $9.99 digital at CD Baby
www.truelifetrio.com
truelifetrio@gmail.com