Altar Quartet feat. Stefan Bartus & Klemens Marktl – Villa For Forest

Nikolaj Nikitin - sax | Ľuboš Šrámek - piano
Stefan Bartus - bass | Klemens Marktl - drums
Eintritt: € 15 | StudentInnen € 8
Innenhofkultur | For Forest | Riedergarten Immobilien

The saxophonist Nikolaj Nikitin and the pianist Ľuboš Šrámek are very well known. Two noticeable personalities of the Slovak jazz scene again joint their creative and interpretations skills. Altar is a result of this intense cooperation. The title itself refers to the term Altar. The authors nine favourite compositions. Apart from their own work, they reached out for the theme of Leoš Janáček, J.S.Bach or for the paraphrase of a well-known standard. Nikitin and Šrámek were inspired to record together by the work of many great artists. Altar has the ambition to reflect contemporary European jazz music without avoiding tradition. An extraordinary element of the recordings of Nikolaj Nikitin and Ľuboš Šrámek is the preservation of creative and interpretation freedom. The new album Altar is not an exception. The nine compositions draw listeners into a unique music world that is created from fragile miniature of every individual composition.

Said about the album:
The first composition ‘Lullaby of Kirkland’ written by Šrámek flows very easily. Those who know Šramek’s composition and arranger style know that it is an exceptionally sophisticated concept in every aspect – rhythm, harmony and also melody. It is interesting that despite complicated processes there is no musicality lost, neither the continuity. Nikitin’s saxophone tenor sounds very gently and fits well into the mood of the composition. Šrámek’s accompaniment is immensely varied. Solos are beautifully created by both artists. “ Listen to the song.
jazz sk (Dávid Oláh)