HOJSAK & NOVOSEL

One in a million. These were the odds that two instrumentalists of completely different musical backgrounds would cross paths and start a band that would later become one of the most recognized Croatian cultural brands. But that is actually how the story of Filip Novosel on a Croatian traditional instrument – tambura, and Tihomir Hojsak on a double bass started. An encounter of a sheer coincidence on a local jam session was the spark to start the fire. Coming from two different backgrounds, traditional and classical, with huge love towards jazz and improvised music they started under pseudonym of Bow vs. Plectrum.

Although double bass is widely used in all genres of music, there are only handful of players that are capable to play versatile as Tihomir Hojsak does. Weather it comes to a groovy pizzicato or lyrical bow playing, treatment of double bass as a solo instrument is not something you hear every day. Filip Novosel on the other hand is the only established soloist on a tambura – a stringed guitar like instrument with very specific timbre. He took the instrument mostly associated with weddings and other social celebrations in Croatia to concert halls and jazz clubs all over the world. A pioneer in many things when it comes to tambura found a perfect partner in versatile double bass player.