DIMITAR LYOLEV QUARTET

Dimitar Loelev began studying music at the age of five and saxophone at the age of sixteen. He graduated from the Secondary Music School and the Music Academy in Plovdiv with majors in piano and bassoon. In 2000, Dimitar became a member of the young folk-fusion band “Brainstorm”. In 2002, he was accepted to the Prins Claus Conservatory in Groningen, the Netherlands. There he completed the “New York Comes To Groningen” program under the guidance of American and Netherlands jazz educators. Over the past two decades he has settled in Bulgaria and built a successful recording and performing career with some of the most famous Bulgarian as well as a number of international musicians. Since 2012 he has been an orchestrator in the band of the Bulgarian National Radio.

Borislav Petrov is a drummer and composer with 30 years of professional experience. He received his musical education in the Netherlands, graduating from the American Jazz Program “New York Comes to Groningen”. He is a student of the legendary jazz drummer Ralph Peterson. Along with numerous stage performances, appearances in a number of international music projects and bands, and a discography of over 30 albums, Borislav Petrov is actively engaged in teaching and research. Since 2020 he has been a PhD in ethnomusicology at the National Academy of Music “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov”. He is the author and creator of the concert presentations on the history of jazz “Jazztory” (Jazz Portrait), as well as the video series “Folk Drummers of Bulgaria”, in which he presents significant drummers and percussionists from the folk and modern Roma music stage in Bulgaria.

Dimitar and Borislav will present to the Bulgarian audience two young musicians – Iris Yenster – vocal and Rob Elfrink – guitar.
Iris Yenster, born and raised in California, has lived in the Netherlands since the age of twelve and brings an incomparable combination of influences from both worlds. With her California roots and passion for music, she impressively touches her audience in a way that has an impact.

Rob Elfrink is a guitarist, graduated from the conservatory “Prince Claus” in Groningen (The Netherlands). He composes original pieces in the style of jazz, pop jazz and Latin jazz, songs for guitar and vocals. Rob Elfrink plays a specially adapted seven-string guitar, using a unique playing technique based on that used by American guitarist Tuck Andress of the world-famous duo Tuck & Patty.

Iris Yenster – vocals
Rob Elfrink – guitar
Dimitar Loelev – saxophone
Borislav Petrov – drums