JIŘÍ SLAVÍK & POLKA-BOYS: POLKATIME
JAZZ COMPOSER AND MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST JIŘÍ SLAVÍK BRINGS BACK THE DANCE FREEDOM AND HUMOUR TO THE POLKA
JIŘÍ SLAVÍK, BEDŘICH SMETANA, ANTONÍN DVOŘÁK, RAGTIME AND POLKA, NOT ONLY IN SYNCOPATIONS.
In the works of Bedřich Smetana, Antonín Dvořák, or Leoš Janáček, but also in the compositions of many world authors, the piano polka has to a large extent transformed into salon art. "In some adaptations by Czech giants, the polka has changed so much that its original purpose - dance - has sometimes completely disappeared," said Jiří Slavík, explaining why he and the Polka-boys decided to return the polka to its dance character and straightforward freedom. With humour, exaggeration, simply, yet virtuosically and in syncopations like in ragtime.
What will come out of Polkatime, we have no doubt that something extraordinary will emerge again, Jiří Slavík & Polka-boys will present in the Czech premiere at the opening concert of Folk Holidays in the line-up: Cyrille Oswald (flutes and tenor saxophone), Michal Wróblewski (clarinet and alto saxophone), Marcel Bárta (bass clarinet and tenor saxophone), Štěpán Blinka (violin), Milan Kárník Jakeš (viola), Jan Keller (cello), Taras Voloschuk (double bass) and Jakub Tengler (drums and percussion).
Photo: Ivan Prokop
