The folk music from Croatia's coastal region of Istria is known for its own ancient and distinctive scale as well as a suite of unique instruments which evolved in conjunction with it.
It's the strong influence of this tradition on the music of composer, flautist and singer Tamara Obrovac which has earned her this nomination, as one of the most prominent artists on the Croatian music scene.
Born in the town of Pula in 1962, Obrovac began her career as a performer while still a student in Zagreb. At that time she played alto saxophone and sang with local bands. Her determination to push at boundaries eventually led to a solo career, which began with the 1996 release of her debut CD Triade. It was hailed for its groundbreaking marriage of jazz and her Istrian roots, which she has subsequently refined over the course of three more albums. 1998 saw the release of Ulika (with the Tamara Obrovac Quartet), followed by Transhistria (2001) and her 2003 release Sve Pasiva (All Fades Away), both accompanied by the shifting personnel of her Transhistria Ensemble.
"My approach towards music went from jazz standards through my own compositions, to my finding of an original expression by connecting the language of the folk music of my homeland (Istria, Croatia) with the rhythms and improvisation typical for jazz, so jazz is my freedom and my roots are my inner truth," she explains.
Obrovac is enthusiastically praised in the Croatian press for the way she uses the works of Istrian poets in her music and indeed her own talents as a poet. She has also composed for ballet and theatre and is a member of the multi-cultural Balkan Horses Band, which currently also includes well-known musicians from Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey, Macedonia, Greece and Serbia.
Jon Lusk, November 2003
Read other peoples comments
hope you heard about her new album: daleko je... It is great, i recomend you to listen to it! I'm proud that we in Croatia have a music genious such as tamara!
tasha
Great performance in Monfalcone! Tamara is a great artist... I love her way to be istrionic and deep at the same time!
Claudio (Berry)
this is something more than exceptionaly good. much more interesting.
lyngdoh,India
If I could find the words to describe Tamaras work in such a short space.That would make me a"MAESTRO ". Regrettably that I amn't and I don't reside near Balkan so I can only listen and wach;( dok drugi pisu gluposti i baliju na ENGLESKOM jeziku ).
Thank yuo Tamara for much needed Cro/Istrian words composed and performed as only a true poet of etno Jezz can. Bravo Tamara !!!!!!!!
Hrvat Down Under Au.
Hrvat Down Under
I listened her and I am amased with her voice, it is at the same time rural and fabulous. Specific songs made a strange unknown but beautiful feeling.
Branka Eremija
That麓s right Ceca is the biggest star ever, she has so much takent and knows what she is doing!
Miki Kuburovic
Shes great, but I think Svetlana Raznatovic (CECA) has a lot of talent to, and I'd would say is even better then Tamara O.
Ivan
I love her music!
This is the best fusion of jazz and croatian folk music I've ever heard
Hannes Laszakovits
she is great! she has a face of someone you can trust
sindi iz beograda
She is great!
I love the JAZZ+ old Istrian melos,..
Just Great!
foker
I have 14 years and I'm big listener of jazz. I like Tamara Obrovac becouse she has fantastic voice and her music is beautifull, jazz with croation old folk. I love Tamara.
ivan 拧unjic
Awesome!
Sina
I like folk music.Folk music is one of the most exciting musics in the world,especially mile kitic, dragana mirkovic,ceca velickovic,dj krmak,aco lukas.....do you agree with me ?
danijela m.-crivac
Her voice is just fantastic.
Margaritov, Bulgaria
wonderful
vlatka
i'm from croatia..and i'm big listener of jazz..expecially tamara..because, we are from sam region..I just saw emission "Time for Jazz" on our national tv..and this is why I whrite you (while I'm lisenining her music). Thank you for Tamaras omination for prise!!!
ana
I saw Tamara on HTV few days ago. She produces the best ethno-jazz music in south-east Europe I've ever heard. It's absolutely amazing!!! It is the MUST for all world music fans to hear.
Vladan, Novi Sad
i think tamara is a talented musician that deserves more publicity in the foreign media such as jazztimes and similar newspaper based in the United Kingdom
bruce
Awesome! I'm from Istra and she's the best interpreter of the local sound.
Neven
She is beutiful singer. I am late to vote but I am giving her credit for her works.
Thanks
Ksenija
Originality,humour & honesty!Remarkable....
marina
she is the best.
snjezana
majestic...
joki
Amazing music, performed by excellent Tamara. Something new, and never heard before in world music
Tom
I think Tamara should get this award because she truly deserves it.Her music is really amazing, an amalgam of jazz and ethno, it's a pleasure to listen to it.I keep discovering layers and layers of a gigantic music talent in her songs all the time.Vote for her!
Mirko
the best croatian musician
alan
BEAUTIFUL,SO EMOTIONAL..
MARTINA
Tamara is super, her music is excelent.....
Denis
Listen to the sounds of Istra and meet your forgotten heart memory (really!). A BIG vote for Tamara.
Daniela, from Pula
You should see live preformance. Excellent!
Sassa
I am voting for it!
Marija Prgomet
i love her music...i just love it! ... it`s so powerful,and full of energy...Words can`t explain that something that I feel every time I listen her!!!
belive me...SHE IS THE BEST!!!!
JAY*JAY
verry verry good singer,whith spontain performances
oskar
Coming from Croatia made me very proud of having someone nominated for this award. This is also the first time I hear about Obrovac and I am very much surprised with the qualitie of music. I just find it very good ... really the music is very, very good!
Goran Svilar
Excellent!
Nada Zgrabljic, Zagreb
Tamara's music is wonderful and mysterious at a time as she combines - in a very specific way - jazz and traditionel music from Istria. Listening to her voice is like a journey into other spaces. Great singer!
Daniela
Few years ago I attended Tamara's concert in old part of Šibenik (croatian coastal town). I remember beautiful magical atmosphere produced by Tamara and her band on that summer evening.
Mirko
Her music is so simple and origin. She has strong rooths and shows that in her songs.
Petra
Her concert made my summer holidays more memorable; she also broadened my views on traditional croatian (istrian) music. It's great to see her being recognized across the world, she certainly deserves it!
Sandra
tamara rules the world
mima
Exelent
Gordana Lukacic
Super music, thank you for it, Tamara Obrovac!
Jasna Knaffl, Opatija/Croatia
Tamara's performance is truly amazing. Her music is a very interesting fusion of jazz and traditional Istrian music. Very exciting and unforgettable listening.
Marinka
her music is specific, emotional, intelligent and original.anyone interested in good music should listen what she has to say.
ani from rijeka
