Percussionist Rumen Sali Shopov is a Roma (Gypsy) artist from Gotse Delchev, a crossroads town in Southwest Bulgaria near the borders with Greece and Macedonia, whose musical traditions he has mastered along with those of the local Bulgarians, Roma, and Turks.
An astonishing musician on tambura (long-necked luten) and bouzouki, as well as an accomplished vocalist, drummer, and dumbek player, Rumen is also one of the greatest living exponents of the southern Bulgarian/northern Greek style of ceremonial and celebratory tapan.
He was the concertmaster of the Nevrokopski Folk Ensemble, Bulgaria’s first national folk ensemble, for more than 20 years, and led two of Southwest Bulgaria’s most important bands, Shturo Make and Orkestar Orbita, performing throughout the Balkans, Europe and Canada.
He has played at five Herdeljezi Festivals with many bands, including with Yuri Yunakov, and at countless other events.
He has toured the United States of America; teaches at music and dance camps around California, all across America, and in Canada; and participates in many folk arts events throughout California, notably as tapan player at the annual Turkish Festival in Monterey and at Greek and Kurdish weddings.
Discography
Soul of the Mahala (2006)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
