The Danube is the most international river in the world. It flows through ten countries and has influenced the history and culture of Western-Europe just as much as Eastern-Europe and the Balcans.
Some countries has lived a thousand years alongside the river, others just a couple of decades. The Danube could tell us a lot about the past, but we got together to talk about today and tomorrow.
We are Europeans NOW, we are connected by the Danube NOW, we want to experience the beauty of our similarities and differences!
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
"It's an amazing project and I’m very happy to work on it because things like this don’t happen as often as I’d like. Even though Europe is so colorful and all the countries are
next to each other, it’s very rare that such international collaborations take place."
Composer, arranger: Zhivko Vasilev
Recording: Tibor Laho, SuperSize Studio
Mix & mastering: ProVibe Studio (Tamás Bolyki, György Bolyki)
Artistic director: Tamás Bolyki (ProVibe Studio)
Producer: György Bolyki (ProVibe Studio)
Bolyki Tamás Quartet:
Kaval - Zhivko Vasilev
Guitar - Tamás Bolyki
Keys - Tamás Sárdi
Double bass - István Siklai
Drums - Adonisz Fábry
saxofon
When Alexandra Lehmler is calling one of her albums "Jazz, Baby!" there is good reason behind it: music in general and jazz in particular are constants in her life. Born in 1979 in Bad Ems (Lahn) the saxophonist, who is living in Mannheim since many years, knew very soon where her path should lead. It started with her time in the Landesmusikgymnasium (grammar school with focus on music) Rheinland Pfalz. Studies at the conservatoire in Mannheim followed, which Lehmler completed with a straight grade A. This success was crowned by a semester abroad in Paris, which she performed within the scope of her postgraduate studies at the conservatoire in Stuttgart. As far as the external frame, however, but what would studies be without applied performances, without countless days and nights in the recording studio or at stage? The fact that a musician can only develop herself, when playing with other musicians or in front of an audience, is something Alexandra Lehmler realized quite early. She was a member of youth jazz orchestras of the federal states Rheinland-Pfalz and Baden-Württemberg and played in the elite institution Bundesjazzorchestera (official youth jazz orchestra of the Federal Republic of Germany under Peter Herbolzheimer) from 2002-2004.
germany
trumpet
Born in Austria in 1987, Simon Plötzender first began playing the trumpet and piano at age of nine. While attending various music schools he simultaneously started his studies at the Anton Bruckner Privat Universität in Linz. From there, he had the opportunity to attend the Konservatorium Wien Privat Universität. The peak of Plötzender’s studies came when he was able to play three concerts with legendary pianist Joe Zawinul, while simultaneously studying with classical trumpeter Bo Niellson in Sweden. In 2009 he moved to Amsterdam to extend his jazz vocabulary by studying with Ruud Breuls and Jan Oosthof. Following a two year masters program at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam Simon was offered an exchange semester scholarship to the Manhattan School of Music in New York where he had the opportunity to study with Scott Wendholt, Joe Magnarelli, Phil Markowitz, and Dave Liebman. In 2011 Simon graduated successfully as "Master of Music" at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. Currently he is in demand as a touring musician, and often divides his time between Vienna and Germany.
Austria
vocal
Sisa Feher is a Slovak composer, vocalist, multiinstrumentalist and lyricist known for her original multigenre musical writing and a passionate performance dominated by her raw vocal expression. She released several albums with her original music and as a part of composing duo with progressive guitarist Vladko Mikláš. Each album represents it’s own universe and therefore carries it’s own project name. Her last album KHI, written for a septet was recorded in Copenhagen with an international ensemble and it was performed after a release in Prague, Copenhagen and Paris. In 2022 she finished an international elite postgraduate program European Jazz Master that gave her opportunity to study at several best music universities in Europe such as RMC in Copenhagen, CNSMPD in Paris, Berlin’s Jazz Institute and norwegian NTNU.
slovakia
guitar, art director
Tamás Bolyki is a young guitarisrt, composer based in Budapest. He graduated in the Bartók Béla Conservatory (special high-school of music) in Budapest. He participated successfully on several national competitions both in combo and solo categories. After his school studies he continued to learn improvisation and composing under such renowned musicians as Szakcsi-Lakatos Béla and Bálint Gyémánt. In 2020 He introduced his first self-written thematically concert program with his quartet, which was named “GPS”. The Bolyki Tamás Quartet performed the program in the most prestigious concert halls in and outside of Hungary. His other main formation is the Soulnote duo. With the singer of the duo, Rebeka Parragi, they compose soulful lyrics and music, balancing always on the edge of jazz, R&B and pop music.
Hungary
guitar
Ivan Pešut is a professional studio musician, author, and live performer. With the guitar as his primary instrument, he has been a professional musician since the age of 15. In 24 years of his career, he has participated in numerous national and foreign recordings, albums and concerts in the region and abroad, studying in parallel and gaining a degree in German language and literature and information technology. He is a four-time winner of the STATUS professional award, of which three times for the best electric and acoustic guitar player (category 1 – pop, pop-rock, and urban music), which has placed him among the most prominent nominated instrumentalists each year since 2008, and in 2019, for the special category “Best Fusion Musician.” As an instrumentalist or arranger/producer, he has participated in many recordings awarded the most prestigious Porin discography award. In 2020, he won a Porin for the best instrumental album (2 nominations: best instrumental album and best instrumental performance for the song “Phoenix”) with his solo album “Timeline.” In 2021, he was nominated in 7 Porin categories. He also won a Porin for the best music producer in year 2022.
croatia
vocal
Gorica Šutić is a singer-songwriter from Serbia and the leader of the band Gorica & The Grooveheadz. After years of involvement in classical music and playing the piano as her primary instrument, she enrolled in the jazz department at the Faculty of Music in Belgrade, where she completed both her undergraduate and master's studies in jazz vocals. She has performed at numerous music festivals, including the Belgrade Jazz Festival, Nisville, Jazz in the Park, Jazz in the Garden, among others. One of her most significant performances was with her original band, Gorica & The Grooveheadz, which was selected as the opening act for the Snarky Puppy concert organized by Bitef Summer Stage. This original band, after releasing several singles and music videos, is currently working on their debut album, set to be released by the end of 2023. With the ensemble MING, which specializes in vocal jazz, she released an album in 2022 featuring original songs and jazz standard covers. Gorica is actively involved in composing and writing lyrics and arrangements, both for her own compositions and in collaboration with many Serbian musicians.
serbia
vocal
Internationally acclaimed jazz singer and composer Elena Mîndru has enlivened the jazz music scene for two decades with her charismatic performance. She was awarded the Second Place and the Audience Prize at the Montreux Shure Voice Competition in Switzerland in 2012, by the legendary producer Quincy Jones. Originally from Romania, the singer resides now-a-days in Finland and has performed in the US, France, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Estonia, Belarus, Finland, Hungary, and Romania. She writes most of her music, including pieces for her jazz quintet, symphony orchestras, big bands, string quartets, and other constellations.
romania
kaval
Zhivko Vasilev is a Bulgarian musician, composer and kaval player who is well-known for his experiments with this woodwind instrument and his constant seeking for unexplored paths in music. He has performed with his kaval all around the world at many prestigious stages and festivals. He has collaborated with many great musicians and is also the leader of a couple of his own projects – Outhentic and Zhivko Vasilev Quintet, both of which blend Bulgarian folklore with western contemporary flavors. In 2020 he became part of the internationally known band Arifa.
bulgaria
bass guitar
Cristian Chiaburu is a young jazz musician from the Republic of Moldova. His mission goes beyond the artistic realm in which his work unfolds and is directed towards a noble and transcendental purpose: spreading the joy and power of jazz. He believes that music has the ability to connect people from different backgrounds and cultures, to inspire positive change in society, and to serve as a remedy for our souls in search of meaning and beauty. Cristian is dedicated to using his talent to create a harmonious and uplifting experience for audiences, transcending boundaries and touching hearts through the universal language of jazz.
Moldova
vocal
Kateryna Kravchenko is an artist who shapes her musical journey with passion, talent, and a spirit of experimentation, enriching the jazz scene with her captivating music. Born and raised in the small Ukrainian town of Balta, she started playing the piano at the age of four and discovered her love for jazz singing at eleven. At fourteen, she left her parents' home to pursue intensive musical education in Odesa. In 2018, Kateryna moved to Dresden to begin her music studies at the Carl Maria von Weber University of Music. There, she founded her first quartet and won significant competitions, leading to the release of her debut EP “Stories."
ukraine
saxofon
When Alexandra Lehmler is calling one of her albums "Jazz, Baby!" there is good reason behind it: music in general and jazz in particular are constants in her life. Born in 1979 in Bad Ems (Lahn) the saxophonist, who is living in Mannheim since many years, knew very soon where her path should lead. It started with her time in the Landesmusikgymnasium (grammar school with focus on music) Rheinland Pfalz. Studies at the conservatoire in Mannheim followed, which Lehmler completed with a straight grade A. This success was crowned by a semester abroad in Paris, which she performed within the scope of her postgraduate studies at the conservatoire in Stuttgart. As far as the external frame, however, but what would studies be without applied performances, without countless days and nights in the recording studio or at stage? The fact that a musician can only develop herself, when playing with other musicians or in front of an audience, is something Alexandra Lehmler realized quite early. She was a member of youth jazz orchestras of the federal states Rheinland-Pfalz and Baden-Württemberg and played in the elite institution Bundesjazzorchestera (official youth jazz orchestra of the Federal Republic of Germany under Peter Herbolzheimer) from 2002-2004.
germany
vocal
Sisa Feher is a Slovak composer, vocalist, multiinstrumentalist and lyricist known for her original multigenre musical writing and a passionate performance dominated by her raw vocal expression. She released several albums with her original music and as a part of composing duo with progressive guitarist Vladko Mikláš. Each album represents it’s own universe and therefore carries it’s own project name. Her last album KHI, written for a septet was recorded in Copenhagen with an international ensemble and it was performed after a release in Prague, Copenhagen and Paris. In 2022 she finished an international elite postgraduate program European Jazz Master that gave her opportunity to study at several best music universities in Europe such as RMC in Copenhagen, CNSMPD in Paris, Berlin’s Jazz Institute and norwegian NTNU.
slovakia
guitar
Ivan Pešut is a professional studio musician, author, and live performer. With the guitar as his primary instrument, he has been a professional musician since the age of 15. In 24 years of his career, he has participated in numerous national and foreign recordings, albums and concerts in the region and abroad, studying in parallel and gaining a degree in German language and literature and information technology. He is a four-time winner of the STATUS professional award, of which three times for the best electric and acoustic guitar player (category 1 – pop, pop-rock, and urban music), which has placed him among the most prominent nominated instrumentalists each year since 2008, and in 2019, for the special category “Best Fusion Musician.” As an instrumentalist or arranger/producer, he has participated in many recordings awarded the most prestigious Porin discography award. In 2020, he won a Porin for the best instrumental album (2 nominations: best instrumental album and best instrumental performance for the song “Phoenix”) with his solo album “Timeline.” In 2021, he was nominated in 7 Porin categories. He also won a Porin for the best music producer in year 2022.
croatia
vocal
Internationally acclaimed jazz singer and composer Elena Mîndru has enlivened the jazz music scene for two decades with her charismatic performance. She was awarded the Second Place and the Audience Prize at the Montreux Shure Voice Competition in Switzerland in 2012, by the legendary producer Quincy Jones. Originally from Romania, the singer resides now-a-days in Finland and has performed in the US, France, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Estonia, Belarus, Finland, Hungary, and Romania. She writes most of her music, including pieces for her jazz quintet, symphony orchestras, big bands, string quartets, and other constellations.
romania
bass guitar
Cristian Chiaburu is a young jazz musician from the Republic of Moldova. His mission goes beyond the artistic realm in which his work unfolds and is directed towards a noble and transcendental purpose: spreading the joy and power of jazz. He believes that music has the ability to connect people from different backgrounds and cultures, to inspire positive change in society, and to serve as a remedy for our souls in search of meaning and beauty. Cristian is dedicated to using his talent to create a harmonious and uplifting experience for audiences, transcending boundaries and touching hearts through the universal language of jazz.
Moldova
trumpet
Born in Austria in 1987, Simon Plötzender first began playing the trumpet and piano at age of nine. While attending various music schools he simultaneously started his studies at the Anton Bruckner Privat Universität in Linz. From there, he had the opportunity to attend the Konservatorium Wien Privat Universität. The peak of Plötzender’s studies came when he was able to play three concerts with legendary pianist Joe Zawinul, while simultaneously studying with classical trumpeter Bo Niellson in Sweden. In 2009 he moved to Amsterdam to extend his jazz vocabulary by studying with Ruud Breuls and Jan Oosthof. Following a two year masters program at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam Simon was offered an exchange semester scholarship to the Manhattan School of Music in New York where he had the opportunity to study with Scott Wendholt, Joe Magnarelli, Phil Markowitz, and Dave Liebman. In 2011 Simon graduated successfully as "Master of Music" at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. Currently he is in demand as a touring musician, and often divides his time between Vienna and Germany.
Austria
guitar, art director
Tamás Bolyki is a young guitarisrt, composer based in Budapest. He graduated in the Bartók Béla Conservatory (special high-school of music) in Budapest. He participated successfully on several national competitions both in combo and solo categories. After his school studies he continued to learn improvisation and composing under such renowned musicians as Szakcsi-Lakatos Béla and Bálint Gyémánt. In 2020 He introduced his first self-written thematically concert program with his quartet, which was named “GPS”. The Bolyki Tamás Quartet performed the program in the most prestigious concert halls in and outside of Hungary. His other main formation is the Soulnote duo. With the singer of the duo, Rebeka Parragi, they compose soulful lyrics and music, balancing always on the edge of jazz, R&B and pop music.
Hungary
vocal
Gorica Šutić is a singer-songwriter from Serbia and the leader of the band Gorica & The Grooveheadz. After years of involvement in classical music and playing the piano as her primary instrument, she enrolled in the jazz department at the Faculty of Music in Belgrade, where she completed both her undergraduate and master's studies in jazz vocals. She has performed at numerous music festivals, including the Belgrade Jazz Festival, Nisville, Jazz in the Park, Jazz in the Garden, among others. One of her most significant performances was with her original band, Gorica & The Grooveheadz, which was selected as the opening act for the Snarky Puppy concert organized by Bitef Summer Stage. This original band, after releasing several singles and music videos, is currently working on their debut album, set to be released by the end of 2023. With the ensemble MING, which specializes in vocal jazz, she released an album in 2022 featuring original songs and jazz standard covers. Gorica is actively involved in composing and writing lyrics and arrangements, both for her own compositions and in collaboration with many Serbian musicians.
serbia
kaval
Zhivko Vasilev is a Bulgarian musician, composer and kaval player who is well-known for his experiments with this woodwind instrument and his constant seeking for unexplored paths in music. He has performed with his kaval all around the world at many prestigious stages and festivals. He has collaborated with many great musicians and is also the leader of a couple of his own projects – Outhentic and Zhivko Vasilev Quintet, both of which blend Bulgarian folklore with western contemporary flavors. In 2020 he became part of the internationally known band Arifa.
bulgaria
vocal
Kateryna Kravchenko is an artist who shapes her musical journey with passion, talent, and a spirit of experimentation, enriching the jazz scene with her captivating music. Born and raised in the small Ukrainian town of Balta, she started playing the piano at the age of four and discovered her love for jazz singing at eleven. At fourteen, she left her parents' home to pursue intensive musical education in Odesa. In 2018, Kateryna moved to Dresden to begin her music studies at the Carl Maria von Weber University of Music. There, she founded her first quartet and won significant competitions, leading to the release of her debut EP “Stories."
ukraine