Le Bouscat, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
She started her project „NEKADA". Based on Yugoslav folk songs, the project is a mix between her origins and her love for Jazz music in an very original way. A cross-cultural, free-spirited musical concept that has led her to a new step in her musical growth. Surrounded by a world class band: sax SAM NEWSOME & MARK TURNER, piano GIORGOS KONTRAFOURIS, bassi OLIVIER GATTO & drummer JAKUBU GRIFFIN, she recorded an album full of melancholic, nostalgic, beautiful and powerful musical moments. With "NEKADA" she performed in France, Spain, Greece, Bulgary , Romania & Montenegro. Today „NEKADA" is:FRED BOREY sax, CAMELIA BEN NACEUR piano, OLIVIER GATTO bass andROGER BIWANDU drums; 2005, saw the raise of Lydia's new project "MEDITERRANEO". She sings Greek, French, Italian, Romanian, Montenegrin, Macedonian songs in a totally contemporary way. The Band includes legendary drummer BILLY COBHAM, kaval player THEODOSII SPASSOV, guitarist INBAR FRIDMAN, piano CAMELIA BEN NACEUR & bass OLIVIER GATTO. Based mostly on more contemporary material, „Mediterraneo" is a musical trip through the different culture. Intense, profound, meditative, contemplative, the music of „MEDITERRANEO" reflects the spirit of the mediterranean people. With this new band, Lydia performed at the Bucharest Jazz Festival in October 2005, Nishville Jazz Festival 2006, North City Jazz & Blues Festival in Zvecani (Serbia ). 2007 HAS SEEN THE RAISE OF "NEKADA" AS ONE OF THE MOST ORIGINAL GROUP OF TODAY JAZZ AND SURELY AS THE BEST MIX BETWEEN JAZZ AND BALKAN MUSIC THAT HAS EVER BEEN PRODUCED. LYDIA FILIPOVIC is one of the few singers in Europe able to pass from the Jazz standards to the most contemporary sounds without loosing her personnality. Because she has an inner creative force and a soulful approach, the creators of yesterday and of today, are recognizing in her one of them.