MOSTAR SEVDAH REUNION

Mostar.  The beautiful, ancient Bosnian town famed for its Old Bridge, built 1566, bombed 1993, now a UNESCO World Heritage site.  Sevdah.  The heartfelt music of Bosnia.  An Arabic word dating back to when Bosnia and Hercegovina were under Ottoman rule, Sevdah means ‘Love’.  But more than that, “it’s a little bottle with all kinds of emotions that you put inside.  And even if you are sad you feel good that you are sad.”  Reunion. MSR was conceived in 1993 during the height of the Bosnian conflict and in 1998 this band of old friends, Bosnaik, Croat and Serb, finally got together to make the music they love, a symbol of hope.  Strongly encouraged by the Music Centre Pavarotti and Brian Eno, MSR recorded their first CD in 1999. Since then three more have been released – all to rave reviews.  "...Mostar Sevdah Reunion does have an embarrassment of talented musicians. It's is no surprise that comparisons have been made between them and the Buena Vista Social club." ( John Lusk, fRoots Magazine, November 2003 UK )