Sinan Alimanović

Sinan Alimanović (born February 11, 1954) is a Bosnian pianist, composer, conductor, and arranger.

Early years (1970–1980)

Sinan Alimanović studied at the Academy of Music in Skopje, Priština, and Sarajevo. He began his musical career with many rock and jazz bands, jazz ensembles, and large orchestras, performing throughout the former Yugoslavia. During the 1970s he became a member of the Revival Orchestra of the Radio Television Priština. In 1979 Sinan moved to Sarajevo, where he became a member of the rhythm section of the Great Orchestra (big band) of Radio Television Sarajevo. He also worked as an arranger, composer, and conductor. After he met Slobodan Kovačević he became a member of the rock group Indexi. In 1981, at the Vaš Šlager Sezone festival, he won the award for best arrangement for "Betonska Brana", which was composed with guitarist Slobodan Bodo Kovačević. In 1983 Sinan left the group Indexi. In 1997 he returned and remained with the band until the death of lead singer Davorin Popović. In the 1980s he collaborated with rock bands in Sarajevo such as Bijelo dugme, Ambasadori. His interest in jazz led him to compose music characterized by rhythmic measures close to the Balkans combined with organ and Fender Rhodes.

Late 1980s and early 1990s

Twice he was a member of the EBU/UER Public Jazz Orchestra (1986 – Opatija and 1990 – St. Gerold) as the only representative of the former Yugoslavia. While he worked in the big band of Radio and Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina, he also led small bands. His compositions are often based on the folk music of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Balkans. But he is also interested in bebop, hard bop, and cool jazz.

Radenci won the award in Music Parade Radenci (JRT). It was a reward for the theme for Oj golube, Moj golube in music processing by Sinan Alimanović. It was performed by the big band of Radio Television Sarajevo. In the 1980s, Alimanović opened the first jazz club (Jazz Club of International Friendship) in Sarajevo, which was included in the map of The World Jazz Clubs.

1990s

During the war (1992–1995) Alimanović and a group of enthusiasts were trying to preserve a cultural part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Five times he was conductor and arranger at the Eurovision Song Contest. In the book The Eurovision Song Contest – The Official History, author John Kennedy O'Connor mentions Sinan Alimanović as the conductor who performed often at this competition. During the war he composed "Sarajevo Remake" which was performed for the first time in 1993 with the remaining members of the big band of RTV Bosnia and Herzegovina in the occupied city. Ten years later Alimanović released an album named for the composition. In 1997 he returned to Indexi and recorded Kameni cvjetovi, their second studio album in 39-year-long career. The album contained the Bosnian traditional song Sevdalinka "Snijeg pade na behar, na voće" with jazz arrangements by Alimanović. With Indexi he recorded two live albums. He was also the Director of Music Production of Radio Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1994 to 2002. During that time he led twenty music festivals.

2000s

As a conductor and one of the founders of the Sarajevo Big Band, he performed at the Olympic Hall Zetra in Sarajevo in 2000. Guests included Duško Gojković, Indexi, and Oliver Dragojević. The concert was recorded for Najveći koncert u gradu. In 2003 he released the album Sinan Alimanović Quintet – Sarajevo Remake". A double album, Sinan Alimanović International Band – Bosnia Groove, was released in 2007. This was followed by Sinan Alimanović Ladislav Fidri Quartet – Live in Tuzla. He has recorded in a trio, quartet, solo piano, and four duet albums.

He is listed on the web site of the world, contemporary composers – Musicaneo. His work is also listed in world jazz archives – Jazz Music Archives.

The Sinan Alimanović International Jazz Band has been active in various forms since 1980. He has worked with American and European jazz musicians, such as Vaclav Zahradnik [cs], Erich Kleinschuster, Gianni Basso, Duško Gojković, Barbara Hendricks, Lee Harper, Randy Brecker, Harvie Swartz, Victor Lewis, Aladar Pege, Csaba Deseo, Jim Mullen, Robert Balzar, Jože Privšek, Miljenko Prohaska, Tony Lakatos, Tony Fisher, Ladislav Fidri, Stjepko Gut, Petar Ugrin, Alex Blake,and Bobby Sanabria

The documentary Sinan Allimanović Jazz Musician was produced by Radio Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina and directed by Emir Saltagić. The screenplay was written by Vinko Krajtmajer. Alimanović is a professor at the Sarajevo Music Academy.

As leader/co-leader

• 2003 "Sinan Alimanović Quintet – Sarajevo Remake"
• 2007 "Sinan Alimanović International Band – Bosnia Groove"
• 2009 "Sinan Alimanović Ladislav Fidri Quartet – Live in Tuzla"
• 2016 "Sinan Alimanović - Live in Sarajevo"
• 2017 "Sinan Alimanović International Band – Live in Studio: Bosnian Blue"
• 2019 "Sinan Alimanović Trio - Live in Skenderija"

As sideman

With Indexi

• 1981 Betonska Brana VŠS
• 1999 Kameni cvjetovi
• 2000 Najveći koncert u gradu 01. 12. 2000. Zetra
• 2002 Posljednji koncert u Sarajevu
• 2009 The Best of... /Live Tour 1998/1999 Vol. 1
• 2009 Live Tour 1998/1999 Vol. 1

With Kosovski božuri

• 1978 Veče Rok Muzike - JRT Opatija
• 1979 Opatija '79 - Rock Grupe

With Ambasadori

• 1980 Ne mogu nam ništa!/Partizan
• 1980 Dao sam ti što se moglo dati

With Bijelo Dugme

• 1986 Pljuni i zapjevaj moja Jugoslavijo
• 2000 Pljuni i zapjevaj moja Jugoslavijo
• 1990 Nakon svih ovih godina
• 1994 Hajdemo u planine