"Dusko Goykovich is wonderful!" No one else but star trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie used these words to describe his feelings for Europe's trumpet heroe, who was born in 1931 in Jajce in Montenegro.
During his long career he played with almost all greats in Jazz. Regardless whether it were trumpeters like Louis Armstrong, Roy Eldridge, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Chet Baker, Freddie Hubbard, Art Farmer, Clark Terry, Woody Shaw, Maynard Ferguson and Benny Bailey or heroes like Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon, Stan Getz, Jimmy Heath, Sal Nistico, Horace Parlan, Tommy Flanagan, Kenny Barron, Tete Montoliu, Jimmy Woode, Eddie Gomez, Kenny Clarke, Philly Joe Jones, Tony Williams (the list is endless), they all were his partners.
But Dusko Goykovich is not only a famous trumpeter, he is also well known for his work as a composer and arranger. In his originals one can find influences of Montenegran folklore.
After his studies in Belgrad and Berklee he played for years in the leading big bands of the world: Woody Herman, Maynard Ferguson and Kenny Clarke - Francy Boland. He of course also led numerous own formations packed with big names of the international scene. He is furthermore leader of the well known Munich Big Band.
The recently released CD Soul Connection (Enja 8044) is one of the masterpieces in the series of more than 70 records Dusko did over the years.
Here the critics of Sid Gribetz in JazzTimes:
"A stellar outing in the Miles mode by the European-based trumpeter. Joined by Jimmy Heath, Tommy Flanagan, Eddie Gomez, and Mickey Roker, the session boasts effortless beauty in a program of straight-ahead originals. Goykovich's Yugoslav folk roots come to the fore on the title track and the ballad 'Adriatica', while the tribute to Miles is more direct on 'Ballad on Miles' and other muted numbers. The entire date swings and glistens, a simple pearl of mainstream jazz".