Robert Balzar Trio

Bio:

ROBERT BALZAR TRIO

The Robert Balzar Trio plays mostly their own compositions but their repertoire also includes arrangements of a wide variety of material (i.e. not only jazz standards).
The Trio has recorded five albums and have played many international concerts and festivals (USA, UK, Turkey, Sweden, Hungary, France, Cyprus, Israel….)
In 1996, Robert Balzar formed a group under his own name – the Robert Balzar Trio – and recorded their first CD called "TRAVELLING".. which was voted 1998 CD of the Year by Czech Radio Jazz Test.

In 2000, The Robert Balzar Trio recorded their second CD titled "ALONE" which was voted the Best Czech Jazz CD of the Year, and the group was voted Best Czech Jazz Band of 2000.

In 2005, Robert Balzar Trio recorded "OVERNIGHT" (nominated Czech Grammy Awards) on the SonyBMG label.

In 2008, the Robert Balzar Trio release cd "TALES" with NY guitarist John Abercrombie.

In 2010, recorded their latest cd "THEYORIES" Robert Balzar Trio & renowned Czech vocalist Dan Barta.

News:

The Robert Balzar Trio is currently preparing material for their next album, tentatively titled „Discover Who We Are“, which is planned for release in 2012.

Members:

ROBERT BALZAR - double bass

"....he sounds great, his solos are thought through, he's got unerring rhythm, he creates just the right sound for the band..."
George Mraz

Robert first took up the acoustic bass at the age of eleven. He would later study classical bass at the Brno Conservatory. In 1985, Robert began his career in Prague as a studio musician (TV Big Band) along with working as a jazz musician.
Over the years, Robert has performed with John Abercrombie, Joe Newman, Benny Bailey, Tony Scott, Benny Golson, Wynton Marsalis, Lew Tabackin, Tony Lakatos, Victor Lewis, Hal Galper Trio, Craig Handy...

In addition to fronting the jazz trio bearing his name, Robert Balzar keeps busy with a number of additional projects.
In 1990, Robert began working with legendary Czech chanson singer Hana Hegerova.
In 1998, Robert joined the long-running Czech funk group J.A.R.
The year 2000 saw Robert becoming a founding member of singer Dan Barta's group Illustratosphere.


STANISLAV MACHA - piano

Stanislav Mácha graduated from the Secondary Art School in Prague. He has studied music privately since childhood. In 1992, he won the International Jazz Festival in Karlovy Vary while with the group The Four. Over the next few years, he performed with a number of prominent Czech jazz combos. He was a member of the Czech Radio Big Band. He has also performed with several internationally renowned musicians, such as Wynton Marsalis, Nicolas Simion and Craig Handy and John Abercrombie. Stanislav Mácha has been a member of the Robert Balzar Trio since its formation in 1996. He is also a member of Dan Bártas‘ group – Illustratosphere.


JIRI SLAVICEK - drums

Jiri Slavicek graduated from the Ostrava Conservatory. In 1992, he began performing in Prague with the critically acclaimed group The Four. While with The Four, he won the Karlovy Vary Jazz Festival competition. He has performed with many bands and has played on a number of albums. He has performed with such international stars as Wynton Marsalis, Art Farmer, Craig Handy and John Abercrombie. Jiri Slavicek joined the Robert Balzar Trio in 2000. He is also a member of Dan Bárta‘s group – Illustratosphere.

Photos:

Influences:

Marc Johnson, Miroslav Vitous, John Patitucci, Gary Peacock, Ray Brown, Ron Carter, Paul Chambers, Scott LaFaro, Marco Panascia, Drew Gress, Avishai Cohen, George Mraz, Larry Grenadier, Darek Oles, Eddie Gomez, Dave Holland, Sam Jones, Christian McBride, Rufus Reid, Jimmy Garrison, Bob Hurst, Mads Vinding, Dario Deidda, Jaco Pastorius, Richard Bona, Marcus Miller, Steve Swallow, Bill Evans, Bud Powell, Oscar Peterson, Keith Jarrett, Brad Mehldau, Michel Petrucciani, Mulgrew Miller, Kenny Baron, Kenny Werner, Phineas Newborn, Jr.,Makoto Ozone,Marty Paich,Enrico Pieranunzi, Horace Silver, Bobby Timmons, McCoy Tyner, Josef Zawinul, Denny Zeitlin, Thelonius Monk, Renee Rosnes, Eliane Elias, Geri Allen, Alan Broadbent, Joey Calderazzo, Cyrus Chestnut, Sonny Clark, Nat "King" Cole, Chick Corea, Victor Feldman, Tommy Flanagan, George Gershwin, Benny Green, Herbie Hancock, Roland Hanna, Barry Harris, Hampton Hawes, Fred Hersch, Shirley Horn, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Wynton Kelly, Kenny Kirkland, Ellis Marsalis, Tânia Maria, Lyle Mays, Peter Erskine, Jack De Johnette, Jeff Balard, Clarence Penn, Brian Blade, Louis Nash, Jeff Hamilton, Al Foster, Art Blakey, Jimmy Cobb, Vinnie Colaiuta, Steve Gadd, Omar Hakim, Elvin Jones, Philly Joe Jones, Shelly Manne, Paul Motian, Adam Nussbaum, Bill Stewart, Kenny Washington, Jeff 'Tain' Watts, Tony Williams, Peter Bernstein, Bill Frisell, Jim Hall, Pat Martino, Wes Montgomery, John Scofield, Pat Metheny, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Anthony Wilson, John Abercrombie, Joe Henderson, John Coltrane, Joe Lovano, Wayne Shorter, Stanley Turrentine, Branford Marsalis, Stan Getz, Charlie Parker, Julian "Cannonball" Adderley, Sonny Stitt, Ben Webster, Sonny Rollins, Bob Berg, Jerry Bergonzi, Michael Brecker, Benny Golson, Dexter Gordon, Johnny Griffin, Steve Grossman, Bob Mintzerv, Ernie Watts, Hank Mobley, Art Pepper, Eddie Daniels, Clark Terry, Miles Davis, Lee Morgan, Tom Harrell, Roy Hargrove, Louis Armstrong, Terence Blanchard, Chet Baker, Toots Thielemans, Ella Fitzgerald, Roberta Flack, Astrud Gilberto, Jon Hendricks, Billie Holiday, Al Jarreau, Carmen McRae, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Wonder, Mark Murphy, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Wilson, Diana Krall, Kurt Elling, Bobby McFerrin, etc.

Sounds Like:

a bass, I hope:))

Videos:

TALES TOUR - TA3 (R.Balzar Trio & John Abercrombie - Bratislava - 2009)


ALONE (R.Balzar Trio - U Maleho Glena jazzclub - Prague - 2008)


REMEMBER HYMN (R.Balzar Trio - Agharta jazzclub - Prague - 2008)


TALE (R.Balzar Trio - U Maleho Glena jazzclub - Prague - 2008)


NIGHT (R.Balzar Trio - Agharta jazzclub - Prague - 2008)


ERONEL (R.Balzar Trio - U Maleho Glena jazzclub - Prague - 2008)


LOOKING AT THE WORLD THROUGH... (R.Balzar Trio & Dan Barta - SK - 2006)


ŽIVÝ (R.Balzar Trio & Dan Barta - Mestska knihovna - Prague - 2007)


DIVENÍ (Dan Barta & Illustratosphere - Archa Theatre - Prague - 2006)


NEJEN IAN (Dan Barta & Illustratosphere - 2008)


STMÍVÁNÍ (Dan Barta & Illustratosphere - Lucerna - Prague - 2008)


SOME PEOPLE (Dan Barta & Illustratosphere - Archa Theatre - Prague - 2006)


FULL HOUSE (Epoque Quartet with R.Balzar - 2007)