Sinan Alimanović

Early years (1970–1980)

Sinan Alimanović studied at the Academy of Music in Skopje, Priština and Sarajevo. He began his musical career with many rock/jazz bands, jazz ensembles and large orchestras, performing throughout the former Yugoslavia. During the 1970s he became a member of the Revival Orchestra of the Radio Television Priština. In 1979 Sinan moved to Sarajevo, where he developed a musical activity, primarily as a member of the rhythm section of the Great Orchestra (Big Band) of the Radio Television Sarajevo, but also as an arranger, composer and conductor. Soon he met bs:Slobodan Kovačević and became a member of the rock'n'roll group Indexi. In 1981, at the “Vaš Šlager Sezone” festival he won the award for the best arrangement of the composition Betonska Brana, which was composed together with the guitarist Slobodan Bodo Kovačević. In 1983. Sinan left the group Indexi. In 1997 Sinan again joins them and remains in the group until the death of the singer – Davorin Popović. In the 1980s he collaborates with many cult groups of Sarajevo rock’n’roll school such as Bijelo dugme, Ambasadori, and many others. However, his main interest is jazz and in his music the audience can feel a great influence of cult musicians and band’s such as Weather Report, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Wynton Kelly, etc. Compositions by Sinan Alimanović, composed in that time, are characterized by specific rhythmic measures close to the Balkans but in combination with the manner of jazz and the unique sound of the Fender Rhodes or Organ.

Late 1980s and early 1990s

He has been twice a member of the EBU / UER Public Jazz Orchestra (1986 – Opatija and 1990 – St. Gerold) as the only representative of the former Yugoslavia. While he works in the Big Band of Radio and Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sinan Alimanović also leads and performs with the small bands under his name. Compositions, on their repertoar, are jazz standards and compositions originally composed by Sinan Alimanović. The compositions are often based on the use of folk music elements of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the entire Balkans, but also he shows a new vision of jazz standards, mainly bebop, cool, Hard bop, Neo-bop jazz and classical provenance. Radenci wins prestigious award in Music Parade Radenci (JRT) It was a reward to the default theme for the song Oj golube, Moj golube in music processing by Sinan Alimanović. It was performed by Big Band of the Radio Television Sarajevo. This award is the largest music – instrumental prize that arrived to Sarajevo. In the 1980s, Sinan Alimanović opened the first Jazz club (Jazz Club of International Friendship) in Sarajevo, which was included in the map of The World Jazz Clubs.

1990s

During the war time (1992–1995) Sinan Alimanović and the group of enthusiasts were trying to preserve a cultural scene of Bosnia and Herzegovina alive. Five times he was the conductor and arranger at the Eurovision Song Contest. In the book “The Eurovision Song Contest – The Official History”, author John Kennedy O'Connor mentions Sinan Alimanović as the conductor which performed often at this competition. During the war he composed jazz composition “bs:Sarajevo Remake” which was performed for the first time in 1993 with the remaining members of the Big Band of RTV Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the occupied city. Ten years later, Sinan Alimanović published jazz album named by the composition “Sarajevo Remake”. In 1997 he re – joins the rock’n’roll band “Indexi”. With the “Indexi” he recorded and published album “bs:Kameni cvjetovi” which is their second studio album in 39-year-long career. The album was marked by the Bosnian traditional song – Sevdalinka “Snijeg pade na behar, na voće”, whose musical arrangement Sinan Alimanović prepared in jazz manner. With “Indexi” he recorded two live albums. Sinan Alimanović was also the Director of Music Production of Radio Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the period 1994–2002. During that time he led twenty music festivals.

2000s

As a conductor and one of the founders of Sarajevo Big Band, he performed at major concert in Sarajevo's Olympic Hall Zetra. The concert was held in 2000. Some of the guests were: Duško Gojković, Indexi, Oliver Dragojević and many others. The concert was documented in a double CD – box, named “Najveći koncert u gradu”. In 2003. Sinan Alimanović published CD “Sinan Alimanović Quintet – bs:Sarajevo Remake”. A double CD “Sinan Alimanović International Band – bs:Bosnia Groove” was published 2007. Many critics consider album “Bosnia Groove” as the crown of his career. However, in 2009. Sinan Alimanović publishes another album: “Sinan Alimanović Ladislav Fidri Quartet – bs:Live in Tuzla”. Now he has ten albums in the form of a trio, quartet, piano solo, and four studio albums in the form of duet, ready for publishing. He is listed on the web site of the world, contemporary composers – Musicaneo. His work is also listed in world jazz archives – Jazz Music Archives.

Jazz

The Sinan Alimanović International Jazz Band has been active in various forms from 1980. He collaborated with many musicians of European and American jazz scene: cs:Vaclav Zahradnik, de:Erich Kleinschuster, Gianni Basso, Duško Gojković, Barbara Hendricks, Lee Harper, Randy Brecker, Harvie Swartz, Aladar Pege, Csaba Deseo, Jim Mullen, Robert Balzar, Jože Privšek, Miljenko Prohaska, de:Tony Lakatos, Tony Fisher, Ladislav Fidri, Stjepko Gut, sl:Petar Ugrin, Alex Blake, Bobby Sanabria and many others.

Throughout career he performs throughout the Europe and America.

About his musical work is recorded a documentary film named Sinan Allimanović Jazz Musician, produced by Radio Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The screenplay was written by Dr. Vinko Krajtmajer, and the director of the movie is Emir Saltagić.

Sinan Alimanović is now a professor at the Sarajevo Music Academy.

Discography

With the band Indexi

With the band Kosovski božuri

With the band Ambasadori

With the band Bijelo Dugme