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ABOUT ZABELOV GROUP
The wide-ranging concept of jazz, its fascination with rhythmic sequences and abstract vocals, experimentation and the constantly search for new sounds, as well as the fusion of cultures, is the gist of Zabelov Group’s approach to music and its presentation. Apart from live instruments, the duo uses synthesisers and other effects. But the key musical elements are the continuous spontaneity on stage and the shaping of momentary moods. Duo Jan Šikl and Roman Zabelov have been on the scene since 2012. The Czech composer and multi-instrumentalist, Šikl, graduated from Prague Conservatory. In addition to playing drums and trumpet in Zabelov Group and the band, Korjen, he writes music for the National Theatre, Czech Radio, the Spitfire Company, and frequently cooperates with the Orchestra Berg. Roman Zabelov comes from a small village, Zhilitchi, in Belarus. In the family tradition, he learned to play accordion – his grandfather was a self-taught musician, his father and his two older brothers are professional accordion players. Zabelov has been a student of music in Prague since 2010. He notably enlivens the musical production of Zabelov Group with his ethereal voice. The Zabelov Group first captured their live performance on a home-recording titled 40 000 in 2012. Their following live album, Secret Sessions, was made in 2014. Last autumn Minority Records released their first studio recording named Eg. The album, moreover, contains passages of “wild sound” recorded outside the studio: the sound of a church organ as well as of various guests, including a highly esteemed Czech double bass player, Jaromír Honzák. What started as a feat of acoustic purism gradually became complex cinematic music interspersed with sound samples and acoustic instruments boosted by electronic devices. “In our work various tendencies started getting layered on top of each other. Discovering the sound possibilities of a modulated accordion brings us to ambient music as well to strict grooves. We are interested in fusing the abstract compositions with the narrative of spoken words and sampled wild sounds. We discover our potential as instrumentalists and at the same time we enjoy the possibilities of studio post-production. I don’t know if we are going to go for the same synthesis with our next record, but with the ‘Eg‘ album we may have interlinked all the existing layers,“ says Jan Šikl about the Eg album. Members of the Zabelov Group are, among other things, also the authors of theatre and ballet music. Last year they performed at the Czech Music Crossroads, Nouvelle Prague, Eurosonic Noorderslag, Ment Ljubljana, Spring Break, JazzFest Brno, Jazzinec, Spectaculare festival, Rock Aqua Viva etc.. Also, they were selected for the Ines Talents 2018 program. The band currently works on a new material. |
PRESS QUOTES:
Their unique interpretations fused ambient textures, freeform jazz, cinematic dance and even post rock into just under forty-five minutes, and for the most part was a revelation. Zabelov’s pained facial expressions throughout coupled with Sikl’s rhythmic accompaniments bore all the hallmarks of two craftsmen deep in concentration, fully focused on the task at hand.
Gigwise.com
Unexpected, intrinsic music. Blending together sparse electronics with jazz flourishes, this duo manage to be both complex and effortless all at once.
DIY magazine
It takes a little while to wrap your head around the quirks and offshoots embedded within Zabelov and Šikl’s music, but once it clicks you’ll have a hard time ignoring it.
Allthingsloud.com
It is jazz, and it is not jazz. It is modernism, but full of tradition at the same time. It is a semi-improvised, complex musical structure thats swirls with a perfectionistic care about every sound and every detail.
Beehy.pe
In telling these stories, the Zabelov Group adheres to the established means of expression, the harmony of accordion and drums, but at the same time seeks new forms. They certainly do not rely on the gizmos / machines to do all the work for them - in this respect, they find a balance between temperance and courage, or compromise, if you wish.
Musicserver.cz
The potential of the sound possibilities and the interplay of the all-electronic modulated sound of accordion and percussion, functionally complemented by a host of other instrumental and vocal tracks and samples, is tightened to its full shape. This music defies the description. All the more colorful are the feelings it evokes.
Uni cultural magazine
A bright flash on the alternative music scene
Reflex magazine
While their concerts are renowned for improvisation and the search for perfect sound on stage, their current album Eg our gentlemen conceived as a sophisticated work with a large proportion of composed music.
Radio Proglas
Their confident and elaborate album blurs the differences between ambient, electronic, jazz and scenic music.
Modern revue
The record is a testament to the transformation of the perception of music itself - while it was originally possible to speak about some kind of acoustic puritanism, it gradually crystallized - in contrast with electronics - into a complex of cinematic music intertwined with samples, jazz traditions.
Uni cultural magazine
Vahvasti efektoitu saundi ilmensi ajanmukaista fuusioajattelua, jossa kohtasivat yhtä lailla maailmanmusiikilliset sävyt kuin jazzinomainen vapaapudotus. Improvisaation osuus kokonaisuudessa korostui, kun soitteita vertasi kaksikon juuri julkaistuun albumiin Eg: live on säälimätöntä vyörytystä tallenteen painottuessa sävyihin ja dynamiikkaan.
Soundi.fi
Il duo ceco-bielorusso Zabelov Group con un jazz d’avanguardia tra improvvisazioni e futurismo. Fisarmonica, batteria e basi elettroniche creano storie tortuose e imprevedibili che nascono dall’incontro tra Roman Zabelov e il polistrumentista Jan Šikl.
GoNews.it
Their unique interpretations fused ambient textures, freeform jazz, cinematic dance and even post rock into just under forty-five minutes, and for the most part was a revelation. Zabelov’s pained facial expressions throughout coupled with Sikl’s rhythmic accompaniments bore all the hallmarks of two craftsmen deep in concentration, fully focused on the task at hand.
Gigwise.com
Unexpected, intrinsic music. Blending together sparse electronics with jazz flourishes, this duo manage to be both complex and effortless all at once.
DIY magazine
It takes a little while to wrap your head around the quirks and offshoots embedded within Zabelov and Šikl’s music, but once it clicks you’ll have a hard time ignoring it.
Allthingsloud.com
It is jazz, and it is not jazz. It is modernism, but full of tradition at the same time. It is a semi-improvised, complex musical structure thats swirls with a perfectionistic care about every sound and every detail.
Beehy.pe
In telling these stories, the Zabelov Group adheres to the established means of expression, the harmony of accordion and drums, but at the same time seeks new forms. They certainly do not rely on the gizmos / machines to do all the work for them - in this respect, they find a balance between temperance and courage, or compromise, if you wish.
Musicserver.cz
The potential of the sound possibilities and the interplay of the all-electronic modulated sound of accordion and percussion, functionally complemented by a host of other instrumental and vocal tracks and samples, is tightened to its full shape. This music defies the description. All the more colorful are the feelings it evokes.
Uni cultural magazine
A bright flash on the alternative music scene
Reflex magazine
While their concerts are renowned for improvisation and the search for perfect sound on stage, their current album Eg our gentlemen conceived as a sophisticated work with a large proportion of composed music.
Radio Proglas
Their confident and elaborate album blurs the differences between ambient, electronic, jazz and scenic music.
Modern revue
The record is a testament to the transformation of the perception of music itself - while it was originally possible to speak about some kind of acoustic puritanism, it gradually crystallized - in contrast with electronics - into a complex of cinematic music intertwined with samples, jazz traditions.
Uni cultural magazine
Vahvasti efektoitu saundi ilmensi ajanmukaista fuusioajattelua, jossa kohtasivat yhtä lailla maailmanmusiikilliset sävyt kuin jazzinomainen vapaapudotus. Improvisaation osuus kokonaisuudessa korostui, kun soitteita vertasi kaksikon juuri julkaistuun albumiin Eg: live on säälimätöntä vyörytystä tallenteen painottuessa sävyihin ja dynamiikkaan.
Soundi.fi
Il duo ceco-bielorusso Zabelov Group con un jazz d’avanguardia tra improvvisazioni e futurismo. Fisarmonica, batteria e basi elettroniche creano storie tortuose e imprevedibili che nascono dall’incontro tra Roman Zabelov e il polistrumentista Jan Šikl.
GoNews.it
