Bulgarian-born and Budapest-based, Nikola Parov knows well the traditional music of the Balkans, having founded the folk band Zsaratnok and spending a good deal of time in folkloric and musicological study. Parov has also collaborated with Irish musicians like Andy Irvine, Bill Whelan and Davey Spillane. This album, Parov’s fifth, features fifteen pieces written for Naplegenda (“Sunlegend”), a dance performance that appears to be the Hungarian analogue to Riverdance. Though all fifteen compositions are original, they draw upon the traditional music of Hungary without being rigidly beholden to it. Many tunes, like “Ugróbugris” and “Táncba vadul!”, sound like traditional Balkan dances played (largely) on folk instruments. Other tunes range more broadly in their geographical and stylistic influences. “Férfimagány”, for instance, is a jazz tune accompanied by Gypsy fiddling, “Parasztkeringö” is a Viennese-style waltz, and the opening track “Pentages” sounds like an Iona tune, with both Celtic and Balkan influences (but maybe that’s because singer Ágnes Hercku sounds like a cross between Joanne Hogg and Marta Sebestyen). The music is performed here by Parov himself (guitar, keyboards, percusion, and a host of traditional instruments, including kaval, gadulka, and bazouki), and eight other musicians on violin, viola, trumpet, sax and vocals (both male and female). Folk purists will undoubtedly criticize Naplegenda for its lack of “authenticity,” but those who don’t fetishize that illusory category will find this to be a fresh and compelling blend of traditional and imported sounds and styles. Very highly recommended to prog-folk fans.

Jim Chokey