Boban Marković (Бобан Марковић) Orkestar live in Athens Agricultural University 4.6.22

For more than 20 years the Boban Markovic Orkestar has brought audiences to their feet with an infectious and energetic music that originates from their homeland of Serbia. Known throughout the Balkans, Boban Markovic Orkestar is an all-brass band consisting of flugelhorns (a kind of trumpet), trumpets, tenor horns, and backing percussion. It is perhaps one of the most famous and best orchestras of this type. Ken Roseman of Sing Out! described the range of their music as "frantic with flashy brass blasts [moving] to calmer, more reflective pieces." In 1995 the orchestra provided the soundtrack for Emir Kusturica's film Underground. The exposure they gained from the starkly political and award-winning film helped the group increase in popularity. They also worked on the soundtrack for Kusturica's film Arizona Dream. The charisma and talent of the band leader, Boban Markovic, has helped the orchestra earn its high standing in the world of the brass band, with music that crosses ethnic, religious, and political boundaries.
A Long Tradition
Boban Markovic is a third generation trumpeter from Vladicin Han in the southern region of Serbia. He began playing at the age of seven. His grandfather is said to have played for the king of Serbia. Markovic's father carried on the tradition of horn playing, eventually teaching the instrument to the young Boban. Markovic told Bob Young of the Boston Herald, "Until I was ten all I really wanted to do was play ball, but now I'm not going anywhere without the trumpet." The family tradition continued with the addition of Markovic's teenaged son Marko to the band. He plays flugelhorn as well as trumpet and kaval (a traditional Balkan flute). Markovic told Rebecca Ostriker of the Boston Globe, "I am so happy he is with me. I see him growing and improving day by day."
Boban would grow up to become one of Serbia's best trumpeters. Each year the country celebrates its brass instrument tradition with a festival in Guca (GOO-cha). In particular it focuses on the brand of playing introduced by the Roma people. Serbian brass orchestras have a long history that dates back to the sixteenth century. During that time, the military bands of the Ottoman Empire introduced their sound and instruments to the Balkan countryside. The Roma, with their roots growing from North Indian nomadic peoples, used the ingredients of flugelhorn and indigenous music to create something completely new. Markovic has been a darling of the Guca brass festival for years, winning the coveted "Best Trumpeter" award for five years. In 2001, after having won it for several years in a row, he stated he would refrain from competing, but the spirit overtook him and he once again competed and won.
Hard Working, Fun Loving
Markovic has chosen musicians for his orchestra from his region of Serbia. The hard-working group performs more than 100 times a year. Their gigs include prestigious dates with the Monterey Jazz Festival in the United States and the Durham International Festival in the United Kingdom, which is the leading music venue for brass musicians and groups. But the group is also willing to play all-out for a wedding. According to Markovic, who talked to Rick DelVecchio of the San Francisco Chronicle, his band plays anywhere from five to ten weddings a year. Markovic remarked that they are harder than concerts, "but you are happy when you see people happy anyway." The manager for the band is Bojan Djordjevic, who is also a popular disc jockey and a producer for B92, a radio station in Belgrade.