The mighty Macedonian brass band took the Western world by surprise in 1997 with their album “L’Orient est rouge”. The band’s trademark thundering style soon became very popular: their powerful rhythm section (drummer + four tubas), their passionate soloists, and the sheer funkiness of their beats would lead any audience to break into dance… despite the fact that Koçani Orkestar use many asymmetrical rhythms, those 7/8 or 9/8 time signatures sometimes called “Aksak” in traditional Turkish music. Oriental brass bands are a Gypsy specialty throughout the Balkan region, from Serbia to Macedonia.