Ivo Papasov, a prominent figure in the modern Bulgarian wedding music scene, is a clarinetist. His jazz-folk style has earned him international fame. He was born in 1952 to Turkish Roma (Gypsy) parents. In 1974, he started the group Trakiya. His distinctive sound, which is improvisational and energetic, has attracted a large number of younger listeners. The attraction of Papasov’s music’s similarity to Western rock’s kinetic spirit is undoubtedly what made him a popular figure in the contemporary Bulgarian wedding music movement. Papasov was convicted of spreading anti-Communist propaganda in 1982. He was released after three weeks. His music flourished in Bulgaria’s democratic society of the 1990s. Long-awaited recordings were released not only in Bulgaria, but also in the U.S. by allmusic.
