Richard Bona’s Bona de la Frontera featuring Antonio Rey (USA, ES, FR)

This new flamenco project by Richard Bona has already taken place in Madrid and Barcelona. The idea came to him after a concert by Paco de Lucia. We know the leitmotiv of the prodigious bassist and singer: breaking cultural and musical boundaries. With “Bona de la Frontera” the African rhythms and Andalusian compasses are married for a new flamenco.

Around him: Antonio Rey, exciting heir to the late Paco or Vicente Amigo, has the most prestigious prizes. It is one of the most remarkable talents of the new flamenco guitar and is considered by the specialized media as the most admired in the world. Victoria Abril calls on him in 2007 to be the musical director of his album “Olala”. Mara Rey, Antonio’s sister, dancer and singer, has performed with great flamenco figures. With his amazing track record, his energy, and his technical mastery Pedro Cordoba has become one of the most popular dancers flamenco enthusiasts. Come live the explosive experience of the clash of continents and feelings between Andalusia and Africa.

 

Richard Bona (American) – bassgitara
Antonio Rey Navas (Spanish) – gitara
Mara Rey Navas (Spanish) – spev
Francisco Vega Jimenez alias “Paco” (Spanish) – perkusie
Pedro Cordoba Higueras (Spanish) – tanec
Thomas Potiron (French) – viola

 

Lucia Lužinská a Boris Čellár Quintessence (SK)

The meeting of four musicians with matured and unique approaches to music who are connected by mutual respect for the individual musical feeling, love to jazz, to own roots, to improvisation, for discovering of new possibilities and mutually resonating human dimension. Their music is a fusion of well-known jazz standards, vivid, groovy own compositions, pop songs interpretations, fragments of folk songs and nursery rhymes. We might even experience vocal-only interpretation looping session.

Lucia Lužinská – vocals, looper, woodpack
Boris Čellár – guitar, woodpack
Valér Miko – piano, keyboard
Michal Šelep – bass guitar
Ajdži Sabo – drums, percusions

Fats Jazz Band (SK)

is reviving tradition of original hot-jazz and swing music  of late 1920s till 1940s of the past centruy. It was initiated by Ladislav Fanzowitz, one of the best present Slovak pianists. The orchestra plays original swing music which takes you to another world, makes your blood boil, and brings you back in time to the era of elegance, glamour gowns, and hot parties.

The band’s repertoire includes the most interesting pieces from the legends of American jazz music of 1930s and 1940s such as Thomas “Fats” Waller whose nick name was borrowed as the band’s title. However, FATS JAZZ BAND also interprets tunes from other remarkable jazz legends of this period such as Louis Armstrong, Teddy Wilson, Lester Young, Billie Holiday, Clarence Williams, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Gene Krupa and many others.

Even though we could say it is anachronism, the orchestra’s presence evokes the vibrations of something unmistakably timeless. FATS JAZZ BAND takes an antiquated template and infuses it with the immediacy of the present. The main thing that gave music of this era its magic was spontaneity, which is undoubtedly retrieved by FATS JAZZ BAND.

The members of this band are professional musicians and singers active in the Slovak leading orchestras and big bands such as the Slovak Philharmonic, Gustav Brom Big Band, Matúš Jakabčic Big Band, Bratislava Hot Serenaders, CZ – SK Big Band, and Orchestra of Slovak National Theatre.

Ladislav Fančovič – Piano, alt / tenor / baritón saxophone, Arranger, bandleader
Ľubomír Kamenský – Trumpet, Cornet
Branislav Belorid – Slide Trombone, Trombone
Pavol Hoďa – Clarinet, alt / tenor saxophone
Michal Matejka – Guitar, banjo
Pavol Kušík – Contrabass
Patrik Fičor – Drums
Jana Dekánková – Singer
Matúš Uhliarik – Singer, piano

Andreas Varady quintet (SK)

Andreas Varady started his ascent to mastering jazz guitar at a very young age. Born of Hungarian Gypsy descent, Varady was raised in a small town in Slovakia and first began to play the guitar at four years old, tutored by his father, Bandi. He was taught to learn songs by ear; his first tune the “Blue Bossa” jazz standard, and from then on he has continued to pursue the world of jazz musicl. He has idolized his guitar hero George Benson, and from his early years has often been compared to the guitar legend.

In 2011, at 13 years old, he became the youngest headlining artist at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London. He became featured in shows with Martin Taylor, Tommy Emmanuel, and Louis Stewart. He appeared on the front cover of Guitar Player magazine. In the summer of 2012, he had the opportunity to play at the world famous International Montreux Jazz Festival where he performed in front of festival founder Claude Nobs and record producer and music legend Quincy Jones. A few months after the festival, Quincy Jones signed Varady to his management company.

To date, Andreas Varady has performed with a collection of world class musicians including: Frank Vignola, Andreas Oberg, Casey Benjamin, Terell Stafford, Lee Ritenour, Stochelo Rosemberg, Alfredo Rodriguez, Nikki Yanofsky, Henry Cole, Reiner Elizarde, Louis Stewart, Soweto Kinch, and many more. Varady is a Benedetto artist and plays his own signature variation of the Bambino model guitar. He is also endorsed by D’Addario strings and Planet Waves cables. Most recently, Varady caught the interest of Bob Zievers, George Benson’s agent, who has signed on to work with the young guitarist. After signing a record deal with Verve Music under David Foster, Varady recorded his debut album in January 2014 in Los Angeles with producer David Paich, featuring Greg Phillinganes, Brian Bromberg, Harvey Mason, Paulinho da Costa, Steve Lukhater, Mike Lang, Jay Oliver, Dave Weckl, and many other guests. Throughout Varady’s budding career as a master jazz guitarist, he has never been to music school. His only teacher was his father, who has played alongside him in his trio as a bassist. He is currently mixing his new album that will be released in 2017.

Andreas Varady – guitar
Bandi Varady – bass guitar
Adrian Varady – drums
Radovan Tariška – sax
Andrej Farkaš – piano

Ochepovsky project (RU/CZ/SK)

Igor Ochepovsky – composer, musical producent and guitarist whose music lies at the crossroad of wesern and eastern culture. He was born and started his creative activity in Russia and then he moved to Prague. Ochepovsky Project was found 3 years ago. His debut album “I am the Wind” sparked a positive upheaval in jazz community. Czech radio often mentions the project in a context of the biggest discovery of the last years.

The band is composed of experienced musicians who are capable of free transformation among different genres including the best from jazz, neo-soul, classical music or groove. The debut album is enhanced by vocals by Kristína Miháľová.

As a part of the new EP Take Care of Me is alongside unique musical experience also one personal message. As a symbol of transformation of thought into the reality of this world, four seeds are part of the booklet. You can plant them, take care of them and watch them grow into something new.

Igor Ochepovsky – guitar, composition
Kristína Mihaľová – vocals
Honza Aleš – keyboard
Michal Daněk – drums
Ondřej Hauser – bass guitar
Petr Kalfus – sopran/tenor sax
Miroslav Hloucal – trumpet
Šimon Marek – violoncello

Tibor Feledi Kairos Quintet (SK)

Tibor Feledi Kairos Quintet presents on their new album a delicate fusion of original compositions inspired by Slovak songs for children and modern progressive jazz. Their debut album “Common playgrounds” received the “Jaz album of the year 2018” prize as a part of Radio_Head Awards 2018.

“In their music, they combine groovy and jazzy elements with electronic influence, fusion, post-bop, free improvisation taking the audience out of this world…”

We are the most creative and free during our childhood. Our imagination has no boundaries. We experience the most beautiful and thrilling adventures on the playgrounds, but these are coming back no more. That is what makes them unique. In that very moment, they become our whole reality and thanks to them, we fully perceive that moment. We were all children once, but most of us forgot about it.

Slovak folk songs for children have fragments of childhood memories. These memories do not come back in circles, but in spiral, influenced by the events in our lives after our childhood. Compositions depict playfulness and freedom of a child in ourselves, but also the complexity of our adult lives.

Tibor Feledi – keyboard  
Michal Šelep – bass guitar
Lenka Molčányiová – sax
Juraj Dávid Raši – drums
Michal Cálik – trumpet