It is well past midnight, I am in my neighbourhood, Volta’s in Zagreb playing Agusev Cocek musical piece. I turn up the volume and let it be heard into the Zagreb night, all the beauty of the Balkan’s saxophone. Macedonian, Rromani. I take a look at comments on YouTube as I dance to the music in my apartment and see that the first one says – “Greetings from Dubrava! Long live Jugoton!” I wave at Dubrava neighbourhood from the west side of the city, I wave at Skopje, I wave at everyone who loves music.
Numerous are those who love music and who, when they become familiar with his music, fall in love with Ferus Mustafov, also known as King Ferus. Famous Macedonian saxophonist of Rromani descent, a multi-instrumentalist, is highly popular for his live and virtuoso repertoire. He is known as the king of the “Balkan Soul”, the king of the wedding music. He is indisputably a person who, with his musical enthusiasm, has also captured domestic and international scene.
I read an interview with Billy Gould from the Faith No More band, and he mentions Mustafov as an inspiration, as “this Bulgarian guy Ferus Mustafov who does this crazy shit“. The fact that Gould does not tell the difference between Macedonia and Bulgaria is forgivable; he recognizes the essential – Mustafov’s musical greatness. Dave Douglas, a great figure of contemporary jazz himself, for example, also mentions Mustafov. Wherever you turn to lately, the name and musical magnitude of King Ferus will be recognized. This is nice, but let us get it straight, the King was the King long before – here, among the people of the Balkans, and it is not less valuable nor less great.
Mustafov was born in Štip, a town in the eastern part of North Macedonia, into a family of musicians, all of them local celebrities. His father, Ilmil is credited with introducing the saxophone into the folk music of the area. Mustafov’s professional career began at the age of seventeen whilst studying violin and clarinet at his local junior music academy. During this time he was invited to go on tour with a band led by Toma Črčev, the tour’s success led him to abandon his academic learning to become a full-time musician. After that, his career continued on an upward trajectory.
He played at weddings in Macedonia, Bulgaria, Greece, Albania, Serbia, Germany, Australia, collaborated with great figures like Esma Redžepova, released albums in collaboration with international recording companies (including the legendary album King Ferus: Macedonian Wedding Soul Cooking), worked as musical editor for various Macedonian TV programs and radio stations, built a music studio in Skopje (today one of the best in the country), performed at prestigious world festivals….
Rumour has it that regular visitors to the Ring Ring Festival in Belgrade all agree that the greatest crowd and the greatest joy at the concert ever remembered were during the wild Ferus’ performance in 1996 at the Rex Cultural Centre, “which was at one time interrupted by the police, because the Dorćol neighbourhood of Belgrade joined the celebration … “
While Nazimov Cocek travels towards the night lights of cold Zagreb, I can easily imagine that scene from our neighbourhood.
I should probably mention something else here as well. Most well-known musicians today (and many ‘stars’ in general) are completely indifferent when it comes to the political and social issues we face, whether local or global. Mustafov is not one of these, and this is his added value. In addition to his musical activity and creation, he has always been extremely socially involved, especially in the fight against alcoholism, which is one of the problems that greatly affect the Rromani community. In life, as in music, he has been working for a better tomorrow.
In a gold suit and plenty of spirit you can still find him playing, equally putting people in a trance state with his saxophone. It is music for life and music from life. It takes you by the hand and leads to the celebration.
