Bojan Z

From Solobession (2001)
Who's Bob (video)
This tune is a masterpiece in melodic development: the ideas seem to flow freely from Bojan's fingers, each one organically connected to the previous one.
This is a peculiar tune, and it also sounds like a warmup (an amazing one!). It's hard to know how much of the piece is improvised, though there is a melodic motif that runs throughout the piece. mainly based on two chords (G#m and G) and just one scale (G#m blues scale) over one octave (!). There is also a 4-bars "bridge" over non-diatonic minor chords (Cm-C#m-Am-Fm).

Don't Buy Ivory, Anymore! (video)
This is a very beautiful tune written by French bass player Henri Texier, first published on his wonderful 1993 album An Indian's Week – guess who played piano on this record? Bojan Z himself! To me this is a real standard, and I can't explain why it isn't played more often…
Of course, Bojan play it incredibly well; it has a very weird coda where he shreds like no one else.

Tout neuf (video)
Tout neuf is a unique tune with a simple structure similar to a Rondo (verse/chorus). The verse is an exploration of unique colors and strange harmonies, built upon a kind of EbmM7 chord, but exploring much further. After this exploration comes the chorus, very consonant and with a marvelous melody: a moment of welcome relief after the weird harmonies!
As the title suggests (« tout neuf » means « brand new », but also « all nine ») the whole tune is in 9/8. But I believe that there’s more to it: to my ears, the verse is in 3+3+3/8, and the chorus is in 2+2+2+3/8. Subtle but important!
This transcription was commissioned by Ivan Pataki, thanks for your support!

Multi Don Kulti

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From Transpacifik (2003)
Set It Up

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From Soul Shelter (2012)
Full Half Moon (Video)
This is a wonderful piece, with a simple yet moving melody, almost classical sounding. There are several sections: the main melody, an interlude, several improvations including one in 17/16 (yes, you read that right).

Sweet Shelter of Mine (Video)
Let's get down to business... In the intro, the left hand is in regular 4/4 but the right hand plays in 5/8. I've written down the theme in 5+5/8, it seemed the easier way to do it. The solo is mainly in 5+4/8… here it gets really tricky! But the tune is so clear and beautiful that we quickly forget these traps set by Bojan!

Hometown
A rather simple tune (it's 4/4, but the 6/4 part can be tricky…), originally played with piano + Fender Rhodes, arranged for a solo piano.

Bohemska
Swingy “Monkish” tune !

303
Once again, some odd measures here ! It starts in 3/4 around a D7b9, and it transforms into a fast 4+5/8 around Cm/D7, with very nice colours.

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From As Is (2023)
Mare Nostrum (Video)
It's a rather simple tune with a G pedal throughout; I wouldn't be surprised to learn that it's a (brilliant) free improvisation! The harmony and melody, mainly in G minor with forays into E minor, are deeply melancholic.
This transcription was commissioned by Ivan Pataki, thanks for your support!