A Balkan American Musical Celebration

Take a trip to the Balkans without leaving New York City! A dynamic fusion of Balkan & American jazz, rock and blues, mixed with traditional Sevdalinka-style Bosniak singing, this one-night only musical event features performances by acclaimed jazz vocalist SASHA DOBSON, noted jazz pianist & composer FRANK OWENS and NYC's own gypsy punk rockers BAD BUKA. Emceed by Tony Naumovski, with a special guest appearance by Shooting Stars (Berlin Film Festival) and Olivier award-winning actress Zrinka Cviteši?. Come enjoy an eclectic mix of some of finest musical artists from New York City and the Balkans. All proceeds benefit the indy feature film LUCKY ACCIDENT CRASH.

Harlem-born pianist/composer Frank Owens credits include recordings with Bob Dylan, BB King and Billy Joel, among many others. He was David Letterman’s first music director, and was musical director and pianist for many of the greats, including Johnny Mathis, Aretha Franklin and Lena Horne. Owens will open the evening, performing a set of jazz standards and original compositions.

Sasha Dobson moved to Brooklyn at 17 and quickly assimilated into the NYC jazz scene, releasing 2005’s The Darkling Thrush and Modern Romance (2006). The latter, which won praise from TIME Magazine, was produced by Jesse Harris. Dobson’s album, Aquarius (2013), was recorded with guitarist/producer Joel Hamilton (Black Keys, Tom Waits, Sparklehorse) and hailed by MAGNET as “raw and compelling.” She and her band performed at Farm Aid 2013 and Dobson opened for Willie Nelson on a series of early 2014 dates after which she released her most recent project Into the Trees (2014) which was a continuation of her work with Joel Hamilton featuring both original songs and covers. After playing together live since 2008, Sasha Dobson, Norah Jones, and Catherine Popper formed the group Puss n Boots and took their talents to the studio. Their debut album No Fools, No Fun was released July 2014. Sasha will perform a set of jazz standards and originals with her trio.

The Bayside-based Bad Buka (“Buka” means noise in Serbo/Croatian) is a unique band that reflects the diversity of its home borough. The nine-piece ensemble is passionately manic and bursting with energy. With ripping guitars, heavy bass and drums, irreverent violin and trumpets and attention grabbing vocals, Bad Buka will close the evening, with music guaranteed to get you on your feet and dancing.

Zrinka Cviteši? made her West End debut at the Phoenix Theatre in London as "Girl" in the musical Once. Her performance received rave reviews, and she won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical. For her performance in the 2005 film What Is a Man Without a Moustache?, Cviteši? won awards for best actress in a leading role both at the 53rd Pula Film Festival and the 11th Sarajevo Film Festival. She received the Shooting Stars Award, the annual acting award for up-and-coming actors by European Film Promotion, at the 60th Berlin International Film Festival in 2010. Cviteši? has been a recipient of the Golden Arena, the top prize at the Pula Film Festival for her work in the film On the Path. Zrinka will sing traditional Balkan songs and jazz standards.

Tony Naumovski is a Macedonian-Australian New York-based film, theater and TV actor. His nick name 'Rotino' allegedly derives from the ancestors on his father’s side, who are from the spectacular village of Rotino, located in the chest of the southern mountains of Macedonia. Tony will host the evening, singing traditional songs from across the Balkans.

About the Benefit: Inspired by filmmaker Christopher Peditto’s travels, LUCKY ACCIDENT CRASH is a romantic road movie, starring award-winning actress Zrinka Cviteši?, that follows an American tourist and Balkan tour guide who form a deep connection, after a chance meeting takes the two on a soul searching journey of discovery. All proceeds from the concert go toward the film, which shoots Summer 2016 in Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia and NYC. See images, hear music and learn more about the film at the Official Lucky Accident Crash Website and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instragram.