muzykanci

je jim nadherny hlas a hra na housle Joanny Slowinske, kterou lze smele prirovnat k Ive Bittove. ["Mlada Fronta Dnes", Etno Brno]

• Joanna Slowinska – individuality similar to Cesaria Evora, Omara and Lila Downs, who sings in Frida... [Wojtek Ossowski, Polish Radio 3]

• Joanna Slowinska – the first lady of the Polish folk music [Tomasz Janas, Gazeta Wyborcza]

* No words to describe what was happening on stage during a common Slowinski's & Halas performance. When someone finally revealed the Polish folk scene - with even a little similar power? [Muzykanci / etno.serpent.pl]

* Muzykanci - one of the most important bands in the history of Polish folk. Just refresh the music of this band, and I wonder what was in it such that it can be put as a model for many younger. The first thought which comes to mind to me is the fact that the group met a truly remarkable artistic personality. Today, listening to their solo albums, it is clear that each of the pairs presented a different vision of playing folk music, and it is a clash of visions created a unique Muzykanci style, which no one yet has managed to imitate. Słowińska is often likened to Eve Demarczyk, Cesaria Evora and ... Mari Boine. Mostly solo or jointly with his wife. Two visions of folk clashed in the composition of Muzykanci, and the clash was a wonderful mix of folk severity of assertiveness. Halas couple bring trance sound of drums, contemplative accordion, Slowinski's fiddle - the fire. Most importantly, the two couples play honestly, and their music seems something incredibly natural. [The Comeback Musicians / maciejlata / etno.serpent.pl]

* World of simple and intense emotion brings to life Muzykanci quartet; tying together damsel braids and youngsters are able to kill out of love... (...) A perfectly executed, apparently only a simple form, now rarely seen instruments. But perhaps the biggest advantage of Musicians is a strong clear voice of Joanna Slowinska so perfectly matched to the folk music. They talk about "the father, the mother seducing girls" and Charles, who killed "alewife, their own lover". And "memento": "Whatever at the world is, all is vanity. Though I would came and royal dignity - all will die ...". Simple folk lyrics, poignant stories of happy and unhappy love, terrible crimes, ordinary joys, fables with a moral: the devils and witchcraft, perfidious lovers and killers of innocent maidens, a brave girls what they can avenge the harm and wives-shrews. It also appeals to the musicians "don't stop play" and "take a quite nice penny"... [Muzykanci - Let them play! Anna Bugajska, "Gazeta Wyborcza"]

• This is one of the most impressive and enjoyable CDs of Polish music I have heard to date.The band Muzykanci has won already a range of folk music awards in Poland (such as Grand Prize of the Polish Radio "New Tradition" Festival, "Eurofolk" Festival, and also "Folk Recording of The Year"). Muzykanci's music is mainly rooted in Polish folk traditions, yet the band incorporates elements of other Eastern European music traditions, such as trans-carpathian, slavic, Galician Gypsy and Jewish traditions. There is an immense drive in the music, the CD transfers very well the joy that these musicians have in playing. The band features four highly talented musicians: Joanna Slowinska sings and plays fiddle, Jan Slowinski sings and plays fiddle, viola and folk bass, Alicja Halas plays the folk drum from the Lublin area, and Jacek Halas sings and plays accordion, hurdy gurdy, folk bass and gardon. The interpretation is of highest quality; a particular appeal is the mixture of male and a strong female voice. The instrumental arrangements are impressive, featuring excellent fiddle arrangements, as well as magnificent inputs by accordion and hurdy gurdy. Energetic music that makes you want to listen to more and more of this music. A must! [Michael Moll, FolkWorld CD Reviews - CD MUZYKANCI]

• Maciej Rychly, the moving spirit of the Jorgi Quartet has invited Muzykanci on to the stage with the symbolic call: ‘Muzykanci, your time has come!’ Rychly’s gentle jest about the origins of Muzykanci didn’t surprise me. ‘From this tension, music is created’ – he said. And folk is, of course, music that represents a patchwork of ethnic sources. Muzykanci played and sang Polish (and not only Polish) folk music with great fire and life. It’s evident that their joint sparring with tradition gives them huge pleasure. In creating their repertoire they rework traditional diverse collections with their own distinctive musical style, suffusing the whole with an extraordinary musical energy. The joy expressed by Muzykanci is perhaps most readily symbolized in Joanna Slowinska. There was no barriers between her body, the pulsing rhythms and spirit. ["Gazeta Wyborcza"; MUZYKANCI - folk birds; Polish Theatre / "Time of Culture"]

• Muzykanci families - one of the best folk bands in the country. Musical fashions, like all fashions, appear and then disappear. When they’re gone, one doesn’t remember the most typical artists, but those who have reached beyond the confines of the musical idiom, and who have attempted to recreate a world according to their own rules, on their own terms, and bound by their own musical responsibilities. Those, on the other hand, who go down the middle of the road, who follow the tide, and who adjust their own ideals to fit those of their audience, seem to disappear swiftly from the horizon, to lose their identity, and to fall into anonymity. One doesn’t take any risks in saying that such a picture holds true for Polish folk music. While this idiom is riding a wave of popularity, there appear performers who are media-friendly, and who attractively, or seemingly attractively, adopt a style that is easily interchangeable with pop music. Of course, one doesn’t want to stop anyone going down this road. But it’s worth gazing much deeper, for in those depths are hidden some real marvels. There, to a calm (though not a lazy) rhythm, some fascinating histories are being played out. The group Muzykanci undoubtedly belongs among such phenomena, and they appeared in the Hall of Poznan Castle. The four artists making up the group play acoustic instruments only. There repertoire is confined to folk music: Polish, but not only Polish. Their music nevertheless has a power and energy that would not disgrace a rock band. Muzykanci approach folk music with deep respect, but nonetheless shape it anew, to mould it to their own temperaments and sensibilities. Polish folk songs are intermingled with Ruthenian, Hungarian and gypsy songs, creating an entire, moving unity. Their playing shows a certain rigour, and yet because of this is honest and honourable, qualities valued by their audience. The strength of Muzykanci lies in their musical integrity, such that, in singing together, all of their individual qualities combine to tremendous effect. However, it’s hard not to be swept away by the marvellous voice of Joanna Slowinska, and her violin duets with her husband Jan. The singing and accordion playing of Jacek Halas also made a deep impression, as did his wife Alicja, who provided the percussive driving force of the ensemble. Together, they showed that it is still possible to exult in the Polish folk music tradition. Someone once said that folk music was fashionable, but it wasn’t a fashion. Quite apart from the play on words, Muzykanci don’t sign up to fashion. They’re simply beyond that. It was showed by the successes on the musical scene, and they emphasized it during their fifth concert in Poznan. [Tomasz Janas, "Gazeta Wyborcza"]