SEXTET
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„Rhythms and colors of Bulgaria’s vast traditional heritage were launching pads for daring improvisations by musicians with plenty of chops and imagination… [The Vasil Hajigrudev Sextet] featured different textures and rhythms of Bulgarian music, from wistful ballads to unbridled dance music with wild improvisations.“— Francesco Martinelli, All About Jazz

AAJ praised Hajigrudev’s composition style for using complex regional folk heritage as a spring-board for modern, open-ended jazz, rather than treating traditional music as a mere museum piece.

The album you are about to hear is a work of love. I was composing and/or arranging this music especially for these musicians in mind. It was an immense joy creating those songs, I hope it will be a memorable experience for you too when you spend some time listening to it.
Thank you.

HAKOS TRIOS
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Released in 2017 on the Spanish label Rizoma Records, Hakos Trios stands as one of the most distinctive debut projects from Bulgarian double bassist and composer Vasil Hajigrudev. Conceived during his years living in Málaga, Spain, the album serves as an exploratory canvas bridging contemporary European jazz, Balkan modal sensitivities, and groove-oriented improvisation.

Label: Rizoma Records (2017)

Key Personnel: Vasil Hajigrudev (Double Bass, Compositions/Arrangements), Lav Kovač (Drums/Percussion), paired with alternating horn voices including Enrique Oliver (Tenor Saxophone) and Julián Sánchez (Trumpet).

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I recorded these original songs with one of my favourite musicians around. The Bulgarian legend – Shibil Benev (guitar) and a master of the soft drum sound – Atanas Popov. My take on music for jazz guitar trio.

credits
released June 15, 2025

Shibil Benev – guitar
Vasil Hajigrudev – bass and compositions
Atanas Popov – drums

Konstantin Katsarski – recording, mixing and mastering.

Verdict
Untitled (Без име) is a sophisticated, understated release that showcases the high-level synergy among three of the region’s finest contemporary jazz practitioners. It’s an engaging listen for fans of minimalist chamber jazz, acoustic improvisation, and atmospheric trio music.

HRISTINA BELEVA & VASIL HAJIGRUDEV

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When you pair the gadulka—an ancient, bowed Bulgarian folk instrument usually shaped like a lute—with the double bass, you might expect a clash of eras or a predictable „jazz-meets-folklore“ fusion. Instead, the duo of Hristina Beleva and Vasil Hajigrudev creates something entirely emancipated from both genres. Rather than simply dressing up traditional Bulgarian melodies in modern harmonies, they strip away the safety net of stylistic boundaries. – „European Music Council“

The music generated by Beleva and Hajigrudev is often described as highly cinematic. Beleva’s approach to the gadulka is delicate, sensual, and deeply expressive. It provides a haunting, fiddle-like resonance that carries the emotional weight of historical Balkan traditions. Hajigrudev, an innovative bassist and composer with deep roots in jazz, avant-garde, and ambient music, meets her with a relaxed virtuosity. – „WOMEX“

The Verdict: If you are looking for conventional, upbeat Balkan folk, this isn’t it. But if you appreciate deeply evocative, modern acoustic soundscapes where traditional heritage seamlessly breathes within free-form jazz improvisation, this duo is a gripping and highly rewarding listen. – „Downbeat“