Vladimir Kostadinovic feat. Ben Wendel, Alex Sipiagin, Joe Locke, Geoffrey Keezer, Matt Brewer, Chris Potter - Iris (2025)

“After listening to this great recording by Vladimir Kostadinovic and this stellar group of high-level musicians, the music gives me a sense of freedom. You no longer hear that too often when people play. The sound of freedom is what jazz and improvisation is all about.” – George Garzone

“It was a great session, a great combination of musicians. Real New York jazz. Everybody loved Vladimir’s music and had equal respect for each other. He’s an excellent modern drummer, who also uses some folk elements from his homeland that add a different flavor. His compositions are amazing – so beautiful, creative and different. He’s a great musician.” – Alex Sipiagin

“Sometimes it’s hard for me to get my head around how European musicians can sound like they were born and raised in an American urban center, and Vladimir is one of those guys. He has a beautiful, wide scope. He’s deeply rooted in the tradition and swings really hard, but at the same time, he’s very much a modernist. He wrote beautiful music, some of it very ecstatic and deeply heart-imbued, and a couple that are quite tricky and possess a lot of intellectual rigor. All of it is beautiful. And he put together an absolute all-star band. Everybody came and just played music.” – Joe Locke

Vladimir Kostadinovic compares his experience during the September 5, 2024 session in New York’s Samurai Studios that gestated this tour de force – titled Iris for his daughter, then 8 years old – to the pressure of competing in the Olympic Games.

“You have only one chance,” says the 44-year-old Vienna-based drummer. Everybody believes in you. Don’t mess up now. We had one rehearsal. I come from a small place in Europe where we don’t have that many opportunities to play NBA games with players-musicians of this capacity. You play a tour for one week, two weeks maximum, and then you have to wait a month. These musicians are challenged every single day. They grab you and you are safe.”

Characterful and original, “Iris” is a sensational album from Vladimir Kostadinovic. Highly recommended listening that takes us on a shared personal journey, it’s a deeply rewarding album and one of the musical highlights of the year. 5 Stars" (UK VIBE by Mike Gates)

“After listening to this great recording IRIS by Vladimir Kostadinovic and this stellar group of high-level musicians, the music gives me a sense of freedom. You no longer hear that too often when people play. The sound of freedom is what jazz and improvisation is all about.” (GEORGE GARZONE)

"Kostadinovic comes off as an imaginative drummer filling in space, stimulating the frontline and urging it on. His imagination raises the quotient, as he sets up different stylistic paths to the signpost of resolution". (AllAboutJazz)

Vladimir Kostadinovic, drums
Ben Wendel, tenor saxophone
Alex Sipiagin, trumpet
Joe Locke, vibraphone
Geoffrey Keezer, piano
Matt Brewer, bass
Chris Potter, tenor saxophone (tracks 1, 2)

Recorded September 5, 2024 in Astoria, NY, USA
Recording, editing, mixing, mastering by Michael Marciano
Produced by Jerry Teekens

TRACKLIST

1. Vladimir Kostadinovic feat. Ben Wendel, Alex Sipiagin, Joe Locke, Geoffrey Keezer, Matt Brewer, Chris Potter - Iris
2. Vladimir Kostadinovic feat. Ben Wendel, Alex Sipiagin, Joe Locke, Geoffrey Keezer, Matt Brewer, Chris Potter - The World Keeps Ending and the World Keeps Going On
3. Vladimir Kostadinovic feat. Ben Wendel, Alex Sipiagin, Joe Locke, Geoffrey Keezer, Matt Brewer, Chris Potter - Unborn Child
4. Vladimir Kostadinovic feat. Ben Wendel, Alex Sipiagin, Joe Locke, Geoffrey Keezer, Matt Brewer, Chris Potter - Is There A Heart In This House?
5. Vladimir Kostadinovic feat. Ben Wendel, Alex Sipiagin, Joe Locke, Geoffrey Keezer, Matt Brewer, Chris Potter - Echoes In Eternity
6. Vladimir Kostadinovic feat. Ben Wendel, Alex Sipiagin, Joe Locke, Geoffrey Keezer, Matt Brewer, Chris Potter - Collectors In Emotions
7. Vladimir Kostadinovic feat. Ben Wendel, Alex Sipiagin, Joe Locke, Geoffrey Keezer, Matt Brewer, Chris Potter - Airegin