Birdland -

Birdland was a jazz-rock band from Bern, Switzerland, formed by Yugoslav students. They made the 1980–82 albums History of Love and Belief, Darkness of Light, and In a Temple of Silence.

Members: Predrag Banković (guitar), Dragan Marinković (bass, 1978-79), Boris Relja (piano), Beat Rauch (drums, percussion), Umil Bengi (percussion, 1978-79), Borivoje Vukadinović (bass, 1979-?), Peter Hurni (drum, 1979-?)

Background

Birdland formed in spring 1978 in Bern, Switzerland, with guitarist Predrag Banković, pianist Boris Relja, bassist Dragan Marinković, drummer Beat Rauch, and percussionist Umil Bengi. Banković came from Belgrade, while Relja came from Banja Luka, Yugoslavia.

Relja studied piano for three years at a music school in Banja Luka. He acquired an EKO Tiger Duo R organ in February 1974 and played with guitarist Jasmin Komić and bassist Namik Hrle at secondary school. Singer Dubravko Pavlić recruited Relja for a local group with drummer Dedo Kartal. They played at the Sebastijan venue in the Čajavec complex around 1974–75, with a repertoire drawn from British hard-rock groups. By then, Relja began his jazz conversion through records by pianists Oscar Peterson and Chick Corea. In 1977, he enrolled at the Swiss Jazz School in Bern.

By 1979, Marinković cleared out for bassist Borivoje Vukadinović, who also came from Banja Luka, where he studied economics at the local university. He followed Relja to Switzerland for musical studies at the Bern Academy of Music, where they met native drummer Peter Hurni, a 1980 graduate whose arrival moved Rauch to percussion amid Bengi’s departure.

Birdland recorded five pieces at Sinus Studio in Bern on February 28–29, 1980, for the subsequent Zytglogge album History of Love and Belief. The quintet entered Studio VI at Radio Televizija Beograd on July 8–9 with producer Predrag Ivanović for their second-recorded but first-issued album, Darkness of Light.

Discography:

Darkness of Light (1980)
History of Love and Belief (1981)
In a Temple of Silence (1982)

References and notes

BLucka Rock Scena — Boris Relja, August 11, 2004 — First-person account of piano lessons, purchase of an EKO organ in February 1974, school performances with Jasmin Komić and Namik Hrle, the group possibly called Spektar, its early Čajavec appearance, and jazz instruction from Robi Božić. Relja expressed uncertainty about the exact year of the first concert. (Cafekajak)
Boris Relja — Jazz Organ Scene Switzerland — Biographical entry establishing enrollment at the Swiss Jazz School in Bern from 1977 to 1981. (International Archives for the Jazz Organ)
Bosnia: Immigrant Makes Music and Millions in U.S. — Julie Moffett, 1998. Interview with Borivoje Vukadinović confirming his Banja Luka origins and studies at the Bern Academy of Music. (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)
Retrospettiva Inc. — Annual Report, 2010 — Biographical statement identifying Vukadinović as a graduate of the University of Banja Luka and Bern University. (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission)
Peter Hurni — Drum and Percussion School — Musician biography identifying his Bern origins, jazz education, and graduation in 1980. (Drum and Percussion School)
Prvi Dio — Banja Luka Music Memoir — First-person recollections of Relja and Vukadinović in Bern, their visit to Banja Luka with drummer Peter Hurni, Birdland concerts, and an undated recording at Plazma studio. (Scribd)
Audion East Euro Discography — Birdland — Spring 1978 formation, original personnel, and album chronology. (Ultima Thule)
Birdland — History of Love and Belief — Transcribed sleeve credits and February 28–29, 1980 Sinus Studio recording dates. (ProgNotFrog)
Birdland — Darkness of Light — Session documentation for July 8–9, 1980, producer Predrag Ivanović, and the September 17, 1980 RTB release. (Yugojazz)