The echo of Qamili's song in an intimate jazz dialogue

The title of the album “Echoes from the heart” has multiple meanings. The echo of Qamili të Vogël’s song has left an indelible mark on his grandson, saxophonist Dukagjin Muhaxhiri. It connects traditional music with jazz, but it is also a kind of intimate communication with his grandfather, which also turns into a dialogue between generations. This album is a bridge between generations that connects me with my grandfather. It is a dance between tradition and improvisation where improvisation is not only a game with notes, but also my way of talking to him,” said Muhaxheri.

The album “Echoes from the Heart” by saxophonist Dukagjin Muhaxheri comes as a rare musical narrative, where family memory and the country’s cultural heritage come together in a more contemporary sound. It is a kind of ethno-jazz project that brings back the melodies of the icon of folk music, Qamili i Vogël. His saxophonist grandson has merged the two genres with the improvisational language of jazz, in an album that is both homage and artistic research.

From the opening of the concert, the atmosphere comes with immediate authenticity. Muhaxheri’s saxophone brings the well-known folk melody, while the rest keeps the rhythm in the spirit of jazz, creating a terrain where tradition and modernity do not clash, but coexist in the song. Gradually, the saxophone itself – the central instrument of this narrative – merges into this universe of sounds, occasionally returning traditional motifs among the scores.

With the band consisting of Turk Tolga Erzurumlu on piano, Visar Kuçi on guitar, Enver Muhamed on double bass and Enes Bey on drums, the quintet has offered a wide expressive space. Improvisation has flowed naturally. Initially the piano has opened harmonic paths, followed by the guitar that has added new shades while the rhythm of the double bass and drums has kept the structure alive and ever evolving. 

From the songs of the opus of the singer-songwriter Qamili i Vogël, Muhaxhiri has named the works of the album, which in Albanian is "Jehonë nga zemra". The works performed are "Jare", "Pasha atësë e mi", "T'kam dasht dhe t'du", "Për khëti t-parë dashninë fillova", "Për khëti t-parë kur të pashë moj dije", "Çeli drandofili" and "Zog i malit". 

In this combination, it becomes clear that the saxophone is the ideal instrument for this type of musical dialogue, naturally carrying the spirit of jazz, but at the same time absorbing the emotion of Albanian folk songs. Jazz and folklore here do not lose their identity. Each maintains rhythmic purity, while the interaction between them creates a new dimension.

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At moments when the melody of the folk song burst forth, the audience often became part of the performance. The applause roared, following the rhythm. 

Muhaxheri himself has defined this project as beyond an album. 

"For me, this was not just an album or a collection of songs. It was more than an album. I stand here not as a musician, but also as the grandson of Qamil the Little. He was a voice that filled the world with sounds and brought people together. His songs have found a place in his hearts," said saxophonist Dukagjin Muhaxheri. 

He was only two years old when Little Qamili died, but his grandfather's music continues to live inside him. 

"I was only two years old when he left us, but his music did not leave us. His music was like living air in our home and has found a place in my heart. This album is a bridge between generations that connects me with my grandfather. It is a dance between tradition and improvisation where improvisation is not only a game with notes, but also my way of talking to him," said Muhaxheri. 

Double bassist Enver Muhamedi said that this project was very important for the saxophonist, which is why his invitation to participate was precious. 

"I was very excited, because Dugi has been mentioning this album to me for a long time and I know how important it is to him and to the entire musical community in Kosovo in general. The moment he invited me, we eagerly came. There was a need for a suggestion for a pianist. I play a lot with Tolgen in Istanbul, he is now part of the album. Everything flowed, we made the arrangements and he chose the things that are close to his heart. That's how all this magic happened," said Muhamed. 

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On Monday night, the audience at the University Library Amphitheater in Prishtina was large. They cheered and applauded the quintet and their work, led by the distinguished saxophonist, Dukagjin Muhaxheri. As a reward, the encore performance of “Pasha atsë e mi” came as an emotional climax, concluding the journey that has left its mark on the music scene.

Ethnomusicologist Behar Arllati considered the album successful, emphasizing the opportunities offered by folklore. 

"Folklore offers a lot. There is material from which a lot can be extracted. Dugi has made the most of the opportunity that folklore has given him to transform it into jazz. It has been an extraordinary combination between the two genres where folklore stood out, but jazz was in the foreground. For me, this is a very successful and very good realization," said Arllati. 

And musicologist Rreze Kryeziu-Breznica has considered jazz and folk music to be an interesting combination. 

"These two genres are born from people, from everyday life and from the need to express themselves freely. This is precisely the spirit heard tonight. A dialogue between tradition and jazz. On this journey, Dukagjini is again not alone. Tonight, together with him are excellent musicians from our scene and beyond, who complete this story with sensitivity and their artistic identity," she said. 

Bass guitarist Shefqet Hoxha-Sheki has referred to the project "Echoes from the heart" as an ethno-jazz album. 

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"It's a successful album. I would call it an 'ethno-jazz album' which amazes us. It's good to have such events a little more often. This enriches us. We have a very wide range of melodies. Therefore, with more such events, my heart becomes heavy," he said. 

In the album "Echoes from the Heart", folk music speaks with a new voice. Dukagjin Muhaxheri's quintet has refreshed it and given it new life.