This man went to PRISON for years because he did not want to stop playing his music! In my book, +++++++1

Ivo Papasov has been plying his clarinet wizardry on the Bulgarian 'wedding music' scene for ten years now. He explores the outer reaches of his instrument's capabilities. In terms of sheer technique, expressiveness, and willingness to experiment, he shows why he is at the top of his field. Fortunately, he was able to find musicians who are able to keep up with him. This is no mean feat, as Papasov often plays at light-speed tempos and considers key signatures mere suggestions.

Peggy Latkovich, RootsWorld

IVO PAPASOV (IBRYAMA) - Clarinet

Legendary virtuoso clarinetist! As a creator of contemporary Balkan music, he long ago became part of global culture.

Thirty years ago, in 1974, long before Balkan music was discovered on the major music scene, Papazov started his revolution with his Trakija Band. At the time he could hardly have known that he was creating a new movement, later known as wedding band music, a mix of Bulgarian and Balkan folk with contemporary elements. His work changed the face of Bulgarian and world music and developed it in new directions.

No wonder his fans around the world call him the King of Wedding Band Music. In deference to his amazing talent, Bulgarians call him the Aga (the Master). And Papazov really is part of the best moments of their lives. His music resounds not only at major concert venues, but also at the important days of their lives, their weddings and family celebrations.

Ivo Papazov is now 52 with a brilliant musical career behind his back. He appears on innumerable productions and albums. Two of his albums were produced by Joe Boyd (who produced Pink Floyd, REM and others). Global media of the calibre of The Guardian, The Washington Post and The New York Times write about him in superlative terms. Flattery for Ivo Papazov has come from world-famous musicians like David Sanborn and Frank Zappa and famous and respected experts and connoisseurs like Simon Broughton and Timothy Rice.

Ivo Papazov works with world-renowned musicians like Milcho Leviev, Peter Ralchev, Teodosii Spasov, Antoni Donchev, Johnny Griffin, Hector Zazou, Okay Temiz, Glen Velez, Kepa Junkera, Arild Andersen, Kalman Balogh, Iva Bitova, Sergei Starostin, etc.

He plays at festivals in Paris, Gypsy Festival Tilburg, Dunya Rotterdam, Eropalia, Krakow, Budapest World Music Festival, Moers Festival, TFF Rudolstadt, Schloss Elmau, Horizonte Koblenz, Facherwelt Karlsruhe, Salzburg, Balkanfever Vienna, Waidhofen Thaya, Huesca Festival, Cormons Jazz & Wine, Jazz Progetto Cremona, Time in Jazz Sardinia, Umea Folk Festival, Moskow Etna etc.

Clubs and Halls like Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, the Soedra Teatern in Stockholm, the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York, Ronnie Scott’s in London, Szene Vienna, Treibhaus Innsbruck, Moods Zurich, Bimhuis Amsterdam, etc.

His new album Fairground is a source of what we all love so much: a tender, lyrical and crazily exuberant mix of bright sounds, beautiful melodies improvisations in half-tones and rhythms, so lovingly created that it draws from our hearts what we cherish most.

Here Ivo plays with his wife – the singer Maria Karafizieva - and his old friends from the Trakija Band: Nesho Neshev on accordion, Vasil Denev on keyboards and Salif Ali on drums. But shades of modern Bulgarian music also appear in the form of master musicians like Stoyan Yankulov on tupan drum and percussion, Ateshhan Husseinov on guitar, Vasil Parmakov on piano, Ivo Zvezdomirov and Stefan Marinov on bass.

The album layout is in style with Ibryama’s music. Along with the disc itself, wonderfully and poetically annotated by musicologist Gencho Gaytandzhiev, the special box contains special gifts for friends of Ivo Papazov’s music, like a big poster of the Aga himself and his musicians. Everything apart from the disc is refreshingly devoid of plastic. There can hardly be such a stylishly presented product on the Bulgarian music market.

The beauty of his melodies gives him the force to change us.
Enjoy it!