Mario Batković is the accordionist who sets new standards on the international music scene when it comes to new i.e. contemporary music.
Born in Banja Luka, and leaving with his family at the beginning of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Batković started a career in Switzerland that led him to some of the most important stages of Europe and on November 4th he will be playing for the first time at the Jazz Fest Sarajevo.
Producer and member of Portishead Geoff Barrow is his close associate for whose record label Invada Records, Batković released his solo album this year. Batković himself says that he is not interested in the genre classification of music, while through his own compositions he explores the limits of his instrument.
Critics say that Batković arrives at a sound that collides between Philip Glass and Vivaldi. Batković uses traditional rhythms and harmony that he breaks with unconventional sounds. His performance is potent and at the same time light, powerful and very gentle, yet at all times equally virtuous.
The performances of Mario Batković speak to the audience on multiple levels and without any words tell beautiful stories and the audience get acquainted with the sound of accordion that they have never heard before. One of the critics wrote: “Mario Batković reminds me of why I fell in love with music in the first place. It is music distilled to its very essence!”
Ticket for the concert of Mario Batković is also valid for the concert of Thumbscrew with brilliant instrumentalists Mary Halvorson, Michael Formanek and Tomas Fujiwara. Tickets can be purchased at a pre-sale price.