Ventzi Blagoev is a talented, versatile, and always moving performer and has been captivating audiences throughout Europe with his virtuosity and soulful trumpet and flugelhorn stylings. Through both live performances and recordings, along with stage, radio and television appearances, Ventzi imparts tenderness, warmth and vibrant excitement through his golden tone and imaginative improvisations.

Ventzislav Blagoev was born on October 25, 1967 in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria. A true child prodigy, he began playing the trumpet at the age of 9 in the brass band directed by Georgi Lyubenov. At the age of 11 he became a soloist with the Youth Symphony Orchestra and he continued his studies with Professor Petar Karparov. He soon became a featured soloist and began touring throughout Eastern Europe. His formal studies included enrolment in the Classic Department of the Sofia Music Academy from 1987 to 1992 and later at the Jazz Department at Bruckner Konservatorium - Linz, Austria.

Well-known within the Bulgarian music scene, Ventzi Blagoev is a superb interpreter of both symphonic and ethnic musical forms but jazz continues to be his favorite medium in his professional development. To this end Mr. Blagoevi has performed with a veritable who’s who of jazz luminaries such as Randy Brecker, Ari Roland, Sasha Perry, Antoni Donchev, Glenn Ferris, Milcho Leviev, Mario Stanchev, Georgi Kornazov, Didier Lockwood, Sylvain Luc, Airto Moreira, Mircea Tiberian, Peter Weniger, Zaid Nasser, and Bob Wilber among many others.

Ventzi Blagoev has performed at major jazz venues and festivals throughout Europe such as the A-Trane, Quasimodo, B-flat, and Atalante in Berlin; in Cologne’s Papa Joe's and Jazz Lokal; and at Dr. Jazz and Pootzke in Duesseldorf. In addition, Ventzi has played at festivals in Thessaloniki, Brasov, Sofia, Bansko, Rousse, Sozopol, Varna, Plovdiv, Gabrovo, NiŠ, and Belgrade over the past 25 years.

Bringing together a beautiful tone with a chance-taking style, Mr. Blagoev utilizes a broad range of the jazz vocabulary. His influences include, but are not limited to, Louis Armstrong, Clifford Brown, Randy Brecker, Dizzy Gillespie, Tom Harrell, Wynton Marsalis, Lee Morgan, Arturo Sandoval, and Kenny Wheeler. From this group of seminal musicians Ventzi’s musical stylings incorporate the history of jazz and he always strives to be true to the spirit of the music whether it be from its New Orleans roots, New York hard bop or into far-reaching free jazz. Through his love and dedication to the music, Mr. Blagoev has forged his own recognizable and deeply personal approach to the music which has been described as “lyrical” and “exciting.” Finally, Mr. Blagoev has a delightful way of engaging an audience; leaving them enthralled with the beauty and joy of his playing and with his personal charm.

 Ventzislav Blagoev was born on October 25, 1967 in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria.

1976              At the age of 9 Ventzi began playing the trumpet.

1977              Ventzi started his studies with Prof. Petar Karparov.

1976-1985    Many concerts in Bulgaria, ex-Yugoslavia & ex-Czechoslovakia.

1985-1987    GUSV Folk Band - Sofia, Bulgaria

1987-1992    Sofia Music Academy, Classical Department

1987-1995    Sofia University Ragtime Band - Gigs in Saarbruecken, Halle & Bolognia

1988-1991    Zornitza Folk Group - Tours in Italy

1991-1995    Solo trumpeter of Bulgarian Army Symphony Orchestra

1993, 1996    Tours with New Bulgarian Opera - France, Spain, Portugal, Germany

1993-1994    Student at the Jazz Department at Bruckner Konservatorium - Linz, Austria.
                     Gigs in Vienna - Porgy&Bess, Tunel

1994-1995    Dixie Jokers Band - Apollonia Art Festival ,TV shows , club gigs

1995-1996    Gigs in Greece with Alexia - Theatraki, Thessaloniki & Dada, Athens

1997-2000    Leader of Phantasialand Dixie Band - Cologne,Germany

1999             Tour in Romania - Cluj, Sibiu, Bucharest

1999-2000    Gigs in Berlin - A-Trane, Quasimodo, B-flat, Atalante; Cologne-Papa Joe's Jazz Lokal; Duesseldorf - Dr. Jazz, Pootzke

1987-2000    Festivals in Thessaloniki, Brasov, Sofia, Rousse, Varna, Plovdiv, Gabrovo, Nis, Beograd

1976-2007    Gigs, concerts, studio recordings with (alphabetically):
Achim Tang, Aleksander Kumanov, Alexander Fischer, Alexia, Anatoly Vapirov, Andy Legette, Antony Donchev, Assen Doykin, Athanas Gounov, Bireli Lagrene, Bris roussev, Bumi Fian, Charly Wagner, Christian Muthspiel, Christian Nemet, Christian Saalfelner, Dessislava Dimcheva, Dimitar Dimitrov, Dimitar Semov, Dimitar Shanov, Dominik Stoeger, Emanuil "Badema" Manolov, Frank Schwim, George Borissov, Georgi Donchev, Georgi Mihalkov, Goze Dimitrovski, Gueorgui Kornasov, Hans Dulfer, Hans Zehringer, H-g Gutternigg, Hristo Yotsov, Ivan Dragolov, Jessica Lurie, Jivko Petrov, John Bull, John Marshal, Johnny Bertl, Kokan Dimushevski, Kostadin Genchev, Kuba Stankiewitcz, Le fi fi, Lena Bloch, Liubomir Denev, Markus Stockhausen, Martin Gjakonovski, Maya Novoselska, Metin Meto, Michail Yossifov, Milcho Leviev, Naiden Todorov, Nevilian Gemijev, Nicolas Simion, Nikolai Ivanov, Nils Wogram, Norbert Scholly, Orlando Sanchez, Petar Massink, Petar Petrov, Peter Slavov, Peter Slavov Jr., Peter Touscher, Plamen Jechev, Plamen Karadonev, Ramesh Shotham, Reiner Winterschladen, Roumen Toscov, Sabin Todorov, Saskia Laroo, Schibil Benev, Sean Moyses, Shefqet S. Hoxha, Steve Hamilton, Steve Potts, Stoyan Yankoulov, Sylivain Luc, Tamas Marius, Theodosi Stoikov, Theodosy Spassov, Thomas Grigsby, Valeri Dimchev, Valeri Kostov, Vassil Enchev, Vassil Kazandjiev, Vassil Parmakov, Vassil Petrov, Veselin Kojchev, Veselin Veselinov - "Eco", Vitas Labutis, Vladimir Hadjiivanov, Vladimir Karparov, William Barkheimer, Yordan Dafov, Youri Parfjonov, Yuldiz Ibrahimova and more...

Translated by Thomas Lee Grigsby