{"id":1734,"date":"2015-07-07T01:33:12","date_gmt":"2015-07-07T05:33:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.arinnainc.net\/en\/?p=1734"},"modified":"2021-09-21T19:13:10","modified_gmt":"2021-09-21T23:13:10","slug":"singing-beloved-rhythms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.arinnainc.net\/en\/singing-beloved-rhythms\/","title":{"rendered":"SINGING BELOVED RHYTHMS: Diversity, Sincerity, Ethnic Music\u2026and Food"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Slovene

Slovene drummer and percussionist Marjan Stani\u0107: The collage of photos by various photographers, including Sa\u0161a Huzjak, Petra Cvelbar, Ur\u0161ka Lukovnjak \u201cKnofla\u201d. (Photos courtesy of the artist. All rights reserved.) Collage by Marta Stemberger.<\/p><\/div>\n

It was a pleasant weekday late afternoon in early June at the Washington Square Park in New York City. Chess players were engaged in their game close by, as we were sitting on wooden benches, shaded by the green canopy of trees full of birds. People of all types and colors were passing by. And of course, there were always dogs and squirrels running around.<\/strong><\/h5>\n

\u201cLook! What’s that?\u201d says the ever observant Marjan Stani\u0107, pointing at someone’s carrying case.<\/p>\n

\u201cMhm, perhaps, it’s a violin,\u201d I offered.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe shape is very interesting\u201d, he ponders. \u201cMaybe there are two inside.\u201d
\nThen he continues: \u201cThe other day, at the Williamsburg Flea Market, I saw these old suitcases from the 1970s. Probably cosmetic cases. They were great. The shape and dimensions were just right for a couple of frame drums. I may go back and get them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, these are the kind of things one finds in New York,\u201d says his partner Gordana Bobojevi\u0107. \u201cThe diversity and freedom. That’s what makes New York City different. We don’t have it in Slovenia. Even though it’s neither fair nor right to compare the two. One needs to observe and take the best of what each world has to offer. The diversity and freedom of expression on the street, that’s New York’s strength.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEven though everything is more and more gentrified,\u201d I explain. \u201cYou can only paint graffiti on allocated spaces; you have to have a permit to play on the subways and parks. What used to be spontaneous, from the soul, is now organized, naturalized. You need to go through someone’s radar to get a yes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo before it was wild, and now it’s domesticated,\u201d adds Marjan.<\/p>\n

Marjan Stani\u0107<\/a>, the Slovene artist-in-residence in Brooklyn this June, is a versatile drummer and percussionist with deep sensitivity to the sound\u2019s colors and rhythms. Born in Bitola, Macedonia, he lived his whole life in Ljubljana, Slovenia. He\u2019s been playing in various ethnic and jazz bands, such as \u0160ukar<\/a>, Jessica Lurie Ensemble<\/a>, Vasko Atanasovski Trio<\/a>, to name just a few. He also creates music for movement classes and performances\u2014the latest was \u201cHit \/ This Is Not a Hit\u201d by Slovene choreographer Matej Kej\u017ear\u2014and teaches percussion workshops.<\/h4>\n
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EXCITING DIVERSITY OF FOOD AND EVENTS<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Marta Stemberger:<\/strong> Why did you choose New York, and not London, Berlin, or Vienna where Slovene Ministry of Culture also maintains the artist\u2019s residence?<\/em><\/p>\n

Marjan Stani\u0107:<\/strong> Because of food, of course. I can try everything here in New York, and I really like that. The problem is that prices are now much higher than in 2011 when I was here the last time. I guess mainly because of the exchange rate between euro and dollar.<\/p>\n

Marta:<\/strong> So you chose New York because of food? You have a diverse selection in London as well, maybe even in Berlin, not so much in Vienna.<\/em><\/p>\n

Marjan:<\/strong> Well, I was joking a little, even though New York is truly great from the culinary perspective, a gourmet’s heaven.<\/p>\n

I could have asked for Berlin as well, but I went for New York because I have the most music connections here. I did two tours with the saxophonist Jessica Lurie<\/a>. Then there is Marko Djordjevic<\/a> who teaches at the Drummers Collective School of Music<\/a> in NYC. We\u2019ve been talking to do something together. I\u2019ll play with him as a guest percussionist for his band Sveti on June 19 at the Whynot Jazz Room<\/a> in West Village. I\u2019m also in contact with the Slovene saxophonist Jure Pukl<\/a>. And I\u2019m getting together with various musicians for jam sessions.<\/p>\n

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