Theodosii Spassov

Bulgarian jazz musician who plays kaval, a chromatic end-blown oblique flute traditionally played throughout the Balkans. Theodosii Spassov began his early training on the kaval at the Kotel Music School and The Academy of Music and Dance in Plovdiv/Bulgaria. The kaval, an eight-hole wooden "shepherd" flute, is one of the oldest Instruments in Europe, rich in tone and technical possibilities. Spassov has developed his own unique style of playing the instrument by synthesizing traditional folklore with jazz, fusion and classical music.

For over 20 years, Theodosii has toured all over Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Australia, Canada and the United States. In 1994, he performed with Sofia Women's Radio Choir which was awarded with a Grammy award for "Le Mystere Des Voix Bulgares". In April 1995, Newsweek magazine recognized Theodosii Spassov as one of the most talented Eastern-European musicians in its "best of the East" article, noting that "Spassov... is not merely surviving the post-communist cultural wasteland. He has actually invented a new musical genre."

Theodosii Spassov has contributed to 20 CDs, four of his own, which have been noted worldwide. He has composed and performed numerous film scores including a French-Bulgarian feature film Granitza (The Border, 1993). Also he recorded themes for films by Italian composers Carlos Siliotto and Ennio Morricone, entitled An Italian Story and The Breakout of the Innocent. At the fourth European Jazz Night, Spassov was a featured performer along with other jazz musicians, including Winton Marsalis.

At home in Bulgaria, Spassov is a national figure and musical hero, and was recently honoured with the "Music Artist of the Year" award. He is the Artistic Director of the world-renowned "PHILIP KOUTEV Ensemble Of Music, Drama And Dance".

Spassov was a member of the company of the Irish music and dance "Riverdance" (1998-2001). Currently he is a soloist on Bulgarian National Radio.