Family Beyond Blood

Accordionist Almir Mešković was born in Bosnia and violinist Daniel Lazar in Serbia; both grew up steeped in Balkan folk music. They met in Norway at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo. Their collaboration reflects not only the music of their homelands, but that of the country in which they met, where accordions and violins are part of a rich folk tradition. The musicians they met in Norway also reflect wide-ranging vocal styles and diverse cultures, hence the album’s title. So among their guest musicians, there’s the warmth of Malian kora (including Toumani Diabaté), Sámi and Iranian vocal techniques and traditions, and Norway’s own tuba star Daniel Herskedal.

But it’s Mešković and Lazar’s playing which are the beating heart of the release, soulful yet elegant, accordion and violin at their very best, as on the opening ‘Valse Norvegienne’, but they are not afraid to hurl themselves into the breathtaking virtuosity of Balkan dance either (‘Capriccio Balkanico’). ‘Yearn’ and ‘Calusul Oltenesc’ reveal the strength of this collaboration capable of deep emotion and overflowing joy, and exquisite playing. A duo to watch and delight in.