(March 7, 2019) Macedonia-born Vladimir Cetkar has appeased the appetites of jazz, soul, and funk stalwarts alike with his alluring vocal and guitar faculties on genre-crossing gems such as 2008’s lush and jazzy disco mover “We Will Never End,” the fiery and funky houser “Right Time,” and 2014’s swingin’, retrofied cruiser “Time Goes By.” Rhythm and melody converge in a dreamlike state on his atmospheric arrangements, wherein a well-studied appreciation of the classics meets a refreshing spin on contemporary vibes.
Cetkar pares down the flow on “Joyride,” the latest preview of his upcoming third studio album, Going Home. Taking a somewhat more straightforward jazz route than the dance floor-primed groove of many of his previous releases, the new single nonetheless boasts driving rhythms that allow his chords to shine through. Instead of adding vocals into the mix, though, he focuses on his soulful strumming, with the accompaniment of keyboardist Justin Salisbury, trumpeter Albert Leusink, and tenor saxophonist Max Zooi nicely augmenting the emotional range of his performance.
Take a First Listen to “Joyride” below and let us know what you think!
