Balkan Connection (1996)

"In 1996 Duko Gojkovic hrecorded his own big band music. Like on Soul Connection, his compositions and arrangements on Balkan Connection recall the spirit of Miles Davis as well as his Balkan roots. His well-chosen big band personnel delivers an hour of swinging music crossing the borders between pure bebop, ethnic reminiscences, and the cool sounds of the 1950s. There are only two standards on Balkan Connection, the other eight are all originals by Gojkovich;; the whole album is arranged by him which testifies as to his compositional and arranging skills undoubtedly a result of his studies at the prestigious Berklee School of Music. Although this is a big band album, the most striking thing about Gojkovićs playing was on the two standards and the final selection where he showed a lot of resemblances to Davis, most probably it was just because he was using a Harmon mute. Balkan Connection is a very listenable album, a lot different from big band charts usually heard." (Allmusic)