Kocani Orkestar

The mighty Kocani Orkestar are among the funkiest exponents of the Balkan brass band style which is found across ex-Yugoslavia and is a direct descendent of the music once played by Turkish army bands. They come from the city of Kocani, in the new Republic Of Macedonia. Their music is based on Gypsy tunes from various parts of the Balkans and on Turkish/Bulgarian rhythms, with a sprinkle of Latin flavour... A powerful rhythm section (drummer + four tubas) which rocks like a mutant Balkan funk band wailing, passionate soloists (sax, trumpet, clarinet, accordion) which go to soaring heights these & other elements of their trademark thundering style have made Kocani Orkestar one of the best-liked Gypsy bands in Europe and the US. Artists such as Cibelle, Beirut and Balkan Beat Box count among their fans (and are known to sometime cover some of their songs). Kocani Orkestar have had tracks remixed by Senor Coconut, Lightning Head, Gaetano Fabri & Mercan Dede (in the Electric Gypsyland album ), and by Animal Collective, Cibelle, Susheela Raman & Buscemi (in Electric Gypsyland 2 )