robert balzar trio
The Robert Balzar Trio has been a leading presence on the Czech jazz scene since its formation in 1996. The Trio has six albums to its credit.
TRAVELLING, 1998 – CD of the Year (by Czech Radio Jazz Test)
ALONE, 2000 – the Best Czech CD of the Year / Best Group of the Year
INVITATION, 2002 – feat. Y. Sanchez – album roku (nominated for a Czech GrammyAward)
OVERNIGHT, 2005 – nominated for a Czech Grammy Award
TALES, 2008 – feat. John Abercrombie
THEYORIES, 2010 – feat. Dan Bárta. nominated for a Czech Grammy Award
DISCOVER WHO WE ARE, 2013
VUJA-DÉ, 2014
ONE DAY, 2016 – DVD – OpenAir
The Trio's live repertoire is an eclectic mix of Robert's original songs, some familiar jazz standards, and some not-so-familiar songs that perhaps will one day become jazz standards! The Robert Balzar Trio has also played numerous international concerts / festivals in locales such as the USA, the UK, Turkey, Sweden, Hungary, France, Cyprus, Israel, …
1996: Robert Balzar formed a group under his own name, the Robert Balzar Trio.
1998: The Robert Balzar Trio recorded their first CD, TRAVELLING (Jazzpoint). This album was voted 1998 CD of the Year by Czech Radio Jazz Test.
2000: The Robert Balzar Trio recorded their second CD, ALONE (Cube/Metier). This album was voted the Best Czech CD of the Year. The group was also voted 2000 Best Group of the Year.
2002: The Robert Balzar Trio provided the music for Yvonne Sanchez's acclaimed debut album, INVITATION (Cube/Metier). This album was nominated for a Czech Grammy Award.
2005: The Robert Balzar Trio recorded their third CD, OVERNIGHT (Sony/BMG). This album was nominated for a Czech Grammy Award.
2006: The Robert Balzar Trio played the Istanbul Jazz Festival (TR), Birmingham Jazz Festival (UK) and some dates in Stockholm (S), …
2007: Along with their typically busy concert schedule, the Robert Balzar Trio also played the Tel Aviv Jazz Festival (Israel), the Cheltenham Jazz Festival (UK) and some dates in Chicago (USA).
2008: The Robert Balzar Trio released TALES (Sony/BMG), a collaboration with celebrated American jazz guitarist John Abercrombie (ECM).
2009: A year that was focused on live work kicked off in March with the Robert Balzar Trio touring the Czech Republic, Slovakia and England with guitarist John Abercrombie. In June, the Trio played a five-night stand in New York City. Live work in the latter part of the year saw a particular focus on Trio concerts with renowned Czech singer Dan Bárta (including dates in Spain) in preparation for the recording of a collaborative album in 2010.
2010: Long-time live collaborators The Robert Balzar Trio and Dan Bárta recorded and released their first album, the acclaimed and best-selling THEYORIES (Taita). The album was recorded in Prague, mixed and mastered in New York. The release of THEYORIES was followed by a promotional tour of the Czech and Slovak Republics. This album was nominated for a Czech Grammy Award.
2011: The Robert Balzar Trio continued to promote "Theyories" through live appearances with Dan Bárta. Plans begin to form for recording the next Trio-only CD.
2012: The Robert Balzar Trio continues preparing for recording their next release. US-based Czech pianist Jiri Levicek joins the Trio late in the year, bringing with him some great original compositions and some fresh arrangements of a few standards!
2013: Robert Balzar Trio records new album "Discover Who We Are" in New York (Sear Sound Studio) feat. renowned Jamese Farber.
2014: RBT release second New York's album "VuJa-dé".
2015: RBT joins new drumer Kamil Slezák and RBTrio recorded DVD "OneDay" – openair concert.
2016: Releasing DVD "OneDay" and touring with great Italian clarinet player Gabriele Mirabassi.
2018: This year comes to the trio new piano player Vít Křišťan and RBT is again searching for new possibilities and ways.
2019: New piano player brings to the RBT more electronic and the sound of the trio changes.
2020: Concert Tour with Hungarian trumpet player Kornél Fekete Kovács.
2021: Recording new album "Silence" – RBT w/ Kornél Kovács & Veronika Harcsa.
"…he sounds great, his solos are thought through, he's got unerring rhythm, he creates just the right sound for the band."George Mraz
Born in Nachod, Czech Republic. 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. In 1996, Robert first stepped out under his own name, forming the Robert Balzar Trio.
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, Kurt Elling, …
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 Bárta – ILLUSTRATOSPHERE group.
diskografie
Travelling – CD
Robert Balzar Trio
1998, Jazzpoint
Alone – CD
Robert Balzar Trio
2000, Cube
Invitation – CD
Yvonne Sanchez & Robert Balzar Trio
2002, Cube
Overnight – CD
Robert Balzar Trio
2005, Sony BMG
Tales – CD
Robert Balzar Trio
2008 BCWD
Theyories – CD
Dan Bárta & Robert Balzar Trio
2010, TAITA Rec
Discover Who We Are – CD
Robert Balzar Trio
2013, DEBUT Prague
VuJa-dé – CD
Robert Balzar Trio
2014, DEBUT Prague
OneDay – DVD
Robert Balzar Trio
2016, DEBUT Prague
see discography for more >>
Vít Křišťan is a Czech pianist and composer, who graduated from the Music Academy in Katowice – Poland as well from the
Jazz Academy in Odense – Denmark. He currently lives in Czech republic and teaches at Jaroslav Ježek Conservatory in
Prague and Jazz Academy (JAMU) in Brno. He is a member of the J. Kucharczyk Quartet, T. Hobzek Quartet and modern Czech big
band called Concept Art Orchestra. Also with M. Klouckova Q. He regulary collaborates with various Polish, Czech and
Scandinavian. He has been with RBTrio since 2019.
A drums and percussion player, was born in Olomouc. He graduated from Janáček Conservatory in Ostrava, specialization in drums and symphonic percussion instruments, after the studies he played in Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra and several jazz groups in Moravia such as Boris Urbánek Band, FMQ etc. Since 1999 he had a steady engagement in the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra in Olomouc as a deputy head of the percussion department. At the same time begins a five- year programme "Jazzdepartment" at the Universität für Music and Darstellende Kunst in Vienna by Professor Fritz Ozmec. He became a memeber of Gustav Brom Big Band in 2001 and gradually his activities as a drummer spread into many others music ensembles such as Matuš Jakabčic Big Band, James Morrison, J. Wigham, Joro Big Band, Blue Train Quintet, Jiří Levíček trio, Lazaro Cruz Quintet, Points Quartet, etc.
Since 2007 has been a teacher at Janáček Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts in Brno.
Other Bands and projects – Druhá Tráva, Cotatcha Orchestra.
