You should reserve superlatives for really extraordinary works. You may certainly use them for Toka Incognita.

The overriding feature encompassing the 12 songs is formed by Eda Zari's most important source of inspiration: the iso-polyphonic art of singing in her native home Albania as it is cultivated above all in the south till today. However, the special and unique feature is produced by Zari's adaptation of the material into her personal world of music, in which there is also a lot of room for jazz and other popular trends as well as for various rhythmic structures in addition to those typical for the Balkans. A world of music is created, which is probably 'Toka Incognita' like the native country of the musicians. But that is precisely what makes this music so exciting and challenges our curiosity! Together with an excellently trained voice, which is never 'oversophisticated' but instead full of individual charisma and a high degree of emotional intensity, Toka Incognita is an impressive witness to a living 'world music', which also is deserving of this name. It combines different cultures in music, which can otherwise be very different. This is something, which probably only a person can achieve who has experienced both as intensively as Eda Zari.

Dominic Miller, guitarist from Sting, among others, can be heard on the acoustic guitar on three songs, and the percussionist from Sting, Rhani Krija, can even be heard on all pieces. Gert Kapo plays piano and also contributed his own compositions and arrangements as well as acting as co-producer. No one less than Sebastian Studnitzky, plays trumpet. The contrabass is played by the whiz kid of German bass players, Martin Gjakonowski. The Siberian player of many instruments Vladiswar Nadishana adds the unusual sounds of bansuri flute. Hayden Chisholm can also be heard on one piece, and Fatmir Ilamaj, Jochen Vogel, Mark Joggerst , Marc Oberländer and Ahmed Eid enhance the sound worlds on other pieces. Finally, you also hear a good string quartet in three songs.

Track Listing

• Dj(a)ellezore
• La Lune et Lys / Zymbylat
• Cahiret
• Moj Zare
• The Balkan 'Turbo' Irony
• Thrill in 9/8
• Do vij
• Foggy Lake
• A Yiddishe Mame
• Kroi
• Spring in Blue
• Toka Incognita / Medley

Additional Details

Label: INTUITION

Genre: World

Run Time: 1:16 mins

Region: 0

Release Date: 09/12/25

UPC: 750447343627