Album Notes Levant, geographic, historic and civilisational term is usually described as an area along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean. In a wider sense,historically and in terms of cultural inheritage Levant comprises Balkans south of Italy and all the way to the shores of Africa. Being the “East of the West” and “West of the East”, thorn by wars and dispersed politically Levant became a synonym for the exciting mixture of cultures and musial styles rooted in Byzantine, Greek, Latin, Slavonic or Turkish civilisation, spiced with music of Gypsies and Jewish Sephards and overhearing the echoes of European classical music and more recently Jazz. Levantina is a collection of my, what I like to call “Levantine” pieces composed since 1997 and traces my Levantine identity, heterogenous as it is, and also the route of the “Balkan Express” train that travels on the track entitled Turbo Folk: From my hometown Sarajevo via Belgrade, Skopje, Thessaloniki, NYC, Pont, Bridge of Arta and Kozani to Athens. Many many thanks to all the musicians who played with their heart and very special thanks to Srdjan Ivanovic’ and Yotis Kiourtsoglou for their creative support in bringing this music to life. I am indebted to Sophocles Sapounas for the production and Vangelis Sapounas and Vassilis Tsovaras for their patience during the recording and mixing. Vojislav Ivanovic’ All music composed by Vojislav Ivanovic’ Recorded and mixed at "Subway" Studios Executive Producer: Sophocles Sapounas Produced by: Vojislav Ivanovic’ Recording & Editing: Vangelis Sapounas Mixing Editing & Mastering: Vassilis Tsovaras Cover Design: Makis Anasiadis & Vladimir Radibratovic’ Design: Makis Anasiadis Photo: Vladimir & Makis Vojislav plays Pavlos Gypas Classical Guitar, Milan Sabljic’ Flamenco Guitar