VLADA SAMARDZIC was born in Novi Sad, Vojvodina, Serbia. As a seft-thought guitar player he picks the bass at the age of 19. After a couple of years practicing and playing in small clubs he meets Vasil Hadzimanov who becomes his long time musical companion. The same year Vladimir starts playing with the Novi Sad Big Band. From 1995 to 1997 he performs and records with the legendary rock band SMAK and studies with the bands leader and one of the most famous guitarists in 'old' Yugoslavia, Radomir Mihajlovic - Tocak.
At Berklee College of Music which he enrolled with the scholarship in 1997, he wins the reward for Outstanding Achievement from Bass Department and BMG Jazz Award and he gets the scholarship from Studenica foundation. During his studies in the States, he intensively works with Bryan Oliver Funk Band and latino ensemble Papa Loves Mambo. He collaborates with great singers Gabrielle Goodman and Luciana Souza, Rumanian pan-flute virtuoso Damian Draghici, Indian guitarist Prassana, piano players Chihiro Yamanaka and Vardan Ovsepian, New York drummer Marko Djordjevic (SVETI) and great saxophonists Jaleel Shaw, Walter Smith III and Felipe Salles. Chosen by the Berklee College, he asists vibist Dave Samuels and percussionist Jammey Haddad on music workshops. He gets Bachelor Degree in Professional Music in 1999 with 'Summa Cum Laude' under supervision of his mentors Oscar Stagnaro and Anthony Vitti.
After graduation from Berklee, Vladimir comes back to Serbia (2000) and continues playing with Vasil Hadzimanov. He also performs with singers Bisera Veletanlic, Brankica Vasic Vasilisa, Saban Bajramovic, Dado Topic and pop star Vlado Georgiev. He collaborates with Mambo Stars latin orchestra and Novi Sad's Brass Orchestra. As a member of Vasil Hadzomanov Band he plays on many jazz festivals and world music festivals all over Serbia, Ex-Yugoslavia and Europe but also at WORLD EXPO 2005 in Japan as only representatives from Serbia and Montenegro. With Balkanopolis project he toured Netherlands and collaborated with Belgrade Symphony Orchestra. He also collaborates with world know producer Mike Nilsen and plays with kavalist Theodosi Spasov, guitarists Vlatko Stefanovski and Tony Kitanovski and bass players Bodan Arsovski, Sanin Karic and Henry Radanovic.
Since his return from United States he has been active as a private instructor and music workshop lecturer for bass guitar and jazz harmony, in Serbia but also abroad, which led him to collaborate with guitarist Elvis Stanic, pianist Karen Asatrian and cuban drummer Leon Angel Rodriguez. During 2006 together with his friends he constitutes PANONIA PROJECT which promotes him as a complete author. Performs with Laki Akosh and Laki Latino (NL) and Dusan Jevtovic Power Trio (Barcelona). In November 2007. Vladimir organizes first International Jazz&Modern Music Workshop in Serbia collaborating with great american guitarist Sean McGowan, pianist Sami Amiris from Greece and drummer Amar Cheshljar (B&H). During a last couple of years Vladimir has been a member of Novi Sad's Jazz Festival Council. On may 2008. he becomes official MarkBass endorser for Serbia. He lives with his family in Novi Sad.
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photos by Aleksandar Ramadanovic
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