Dzambo Agusevi Orchestra

The trumpet virtuoso Dzambo Agushev (Djambo Ozden) was born in Strumica, in eastern Macedonia, on the 28th of October 1987. His family has a long and significant musical tradition. Since his childhood, following the example of his father Cemal and of his uncle Koco, Dzambo never even considered an alternative to the music career. When the family Agushev came back from Germany to their home country, Dzambo heard for the first time his uncle Koco playing. Koco Agushev was a local legend and an appreciated musician abroad; everybody praised his talent and virtuosity.Dzambo, astonished by the ability of his uncle, started to imitate Koco and to rehearse every day, more and more, with the goal to become as good as him, may be to become even a better musician.

Uncle Koco was the leader of a solid established Orchestra called Agushevi and his father Cemal joined the team. Dzambo was so fascinated by Koco that he stopped sleeping at his home, trying to spend as much time as possible in his uncles house. He spent his free time listening to the bands rehearsal and praying Koco to show him how to improve his technique.Following his uncles indications was not always easy, as well as for his mother to stand hours and hours of homes rehearsal So sometimes little Dzambo was sent away from his room, obliged to go for a walk and take some fresh air. Whilst most of the boys in his age in Strumica, as almost everywhere, wanted to play with a ball as much as possible, he just wanted to spend more and more time trying to improve his ability as a trumpet player.The concert with Goce Arnaudov at Tetovo filigrani represented the peak of young artists promotion. He owes his nickname to the legendary saxophone player Ferus Mustafov: when Ferus heard Dzambo playing, he could hardly believe to his eyes and hears He could hardly believe that an eleven-year- old- boy could play so fast and named him Jumbo (in the Macedonian transcription is Dzambo) and invited him to record a CD. Jumbo 11, his debut album was published in Bitola by a local label.Every trumpet player who wants to be fully respected in the Balkans must take part in competitions. There are several ones in the whole region, more or less important, but for sure the local communities take these challenges seriously and deserve them great attention. Dzambo accepted the challenge and went to compete at Kumanovo Trumpet Fest in 2006, downsizing the other musicians and conquering a deserved first place. From 2006 until 2011 the new star of the Agushevi Orchestra was the absolute champion in Kumanovo, until he was banned to compete to leave the place to other competitors. In 2011 he took part to the competition in Pehcevo and managed to win all the prizes, impressing the jury.

It is widely known that the dream of every trumpet player of the Balkan region is to win the Guca Festival, which takes place every year in Guca, a village in the mountains in Central Serbia. The Assembly of Trumpet Players of Guca is since the sixties the most important event of this kind in the whole area and probably in the world. Thanks to the triumph in Pehcevo, in the same year Dzambo was invited to compete in Guca, in the international category. For a young player, the first time in Guca is an impressive experience: it can also awake fear of making mistakes before a huge and competent audience.  The Orchestra received the first prize and Dzambo wrote his name in the history of the famous event. The victory in Guca was followed by another victory in Pehcevo in 2012, with the consequent request from the organization not to compete anymore, because Agushevi Orchestra took all the possible prizes. Having started from Strumica in 2006 as a simple member of his uncles Orchestra, in a few years Dzambo made a name for himself and is now followed by a large audience in the Balkans, as well as in other countries, where his popularity is constantly increasing: he is frequent guest in Turkey, where he has a good career since several years. He toured Australia and will be soon touring the USA. The Agushevi Orchestra has already brought his musical message to several European countries, but Dzambo and his fellows dont even think to stop for a while: instead, they keep on touring and spreading their Balkan groove.  

     Djambo Ozden / Emir Ozden /Kjazim Agushev/ Sunay Mustafov // Trumpets/ Shukri Djevatov /Tuba// Ali Zekirov/ Elvijan Demirovski/Djafer Fazliov// Tenor horn// Orfej Chakalovski/big drum//  Redjep Nedjatov/drums