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You can find all the recent news aboout Robert Balzar and his bands right here.

As another year draws to a close, it's time once again to take a moment and recap Robert's activities over the past twelve months.
Arguably the biggest Robert - related news in 2011 was an announcement by legendary Czech chanteuse Hana Hegerová of her retirement from live performances. Robert had been a member of Hana's touring band for over twenty years
Funk-rap ensemble J.A.R. released their latest album "Dlouhohrajici decka" to great acclaim in late 2011! The new disk shot straight to number 1 on the Czech album charts with the band promoting it during their traditional November tour.
Robert along with fellow Illustratosphere members Dan Bárta and Filip Jelinek, reunited with their former Sexy Dancer's bandmate Dara Rolins during successful Illustratosphere tours of both the Czech and the Slovak Republics (additional dates are being planned for 2012!).
And speaking of Dan Bárta, The Robert Balzar Trio played numerous live dates with Dan throughout the year in continued support of their popular late - 2010 album "Theyories".
Last but no doubt the closest to Robert's heart, The Robert Balzar Trio played an increased number gigs throughout 2011. The Trio is currently focused on building new repertoire for their next album, tentatively titled "Discover Who We Are", to be recorded sometime in the new year.

Please be sure to come by a gig in 2012 and discover for yourself what the RB Trio is up to!
Happy Holidays!!

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Here is some video of the Robert Balzar Trio's performance at JazzFestBrno 2011. This footage features two songs: "Hope" (R. Balzar) and "Alive" (F.Jelinek). Enjoy!!

Stanislav Macha - piano
Robert Balzar - bass
Jiri Slavicek - drums

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Long-running funk-rap outfit J.A.R. have released their first new album in five years, "Dlouhohrajici decka". The album debuted at number one on the Czech album charts and is available at all the usual retail locations throughout the Czech and Slovak Republics. Robert has been a member of J.A.R. since 1998 and the new release prominently features his bass playing. J.A.R. will be touring over the next few months in support of the new album. Many live dates are scheduled for November including the traditional annual Prague appearance on 17 November. For the non-Czech speakers, the album name roughly translates as \"Long playing children\". You may draw your own conclusions from that!

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It is with great sadness that we pass along the news that Hana Hegerová has decided to retire from her busy schedule of live performances. While she has not ruled out making the occasional guest concert appearance, nor does she plan to stop making new albums, citing health reasons Hana decided to no longer continue her rigorous touring schedule. Robert has been a member of Hana's touring band since 1990 and has also played on numerous studio recordings as well.
Robert comments, "I will miss playing Hana's show, it's been a part of my life for a long time! Playing a Hegerová concert was different in many ways from my other projects: the volume level gave the show a different dynamic; I often played with the bow which I really enjoy and don't get to do as much as I might like elsewhere; playing without a drummer is a very different experience and I have always enjoyed playing alongside Petr Malasek, Fr. Kop and Zd. Fiser. Everybody knows Hana is she well loved by her fans. She has her own very distinctive image and she worked hard at her craft right up to her last concert. I wish her all the best in retirement!"

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Dan Bárta and the Robert Balzar Trio made a recent appearance on the Czech television music program "KLOBOUCEK" performing four songs from their album "Theyories". If you were lucky enough to catch the show, here is a bonus video for you! One additional song was performed and taped but it was shown on a different telecast of "KLOBOUCEK". And if you did not catch the show when it aired, this video is your opportunity to see a great performance by the guys!

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In April, the Robert Balzar Trio played at two jazz festivals: JazzFestBrno 2011 and Mladí ladí Jazz in Prague. Here's some video along with a photo gallery from Brno.




BRNO JAZZFEST 22.04.2011 - photo gallery

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While Prague thaws out from the long winter, March and April are both shaping up to be big "concert months" on Robert's schedule. A fourteen date Illustratosphere tour is scheduled to kick off in Brno in early March. This tour will feature vocals from special guest Dara Rolins. For those unaware, Robert, Filip Jelínek, Dan Bárta, and Dara Rolins were all members of the short-lived Czech funk supergroup Sexy Dancers. In addition to the Illustratosphere tour, Robert also has dates scheduled for the continuing promotion of the recent Dan Bárta / Robert Balzar Trio album "Theyories". And if all of that weren't enough, perhaps the most exciting news is a dozen or so Robert Balzar Trio gigs that are also scheduled throughout March / April at which the guys will be honing material for a planned new Trio album!
Please check the Concerts calendar section of the website for details on all the dates and we sincerely hope to see you somewhere soon!!

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For some of Robert's insights on his bass playing along with a peek at Robert's plans for the New Year, please check out the following interview/article in this week's
Prague Post

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2010 is no doubt a year that Robert Balzar will remember best for all the work that went into making the album "Theyories", a collaboration between the Robert Balzar Trio and renowned Czech vocalist Dan Bárta. Selecting repertoire for the album began early in the year, arrangements for the twelve songs were developed, the material was honed in concert performances, demos were recorded. The actual recording of "Theyories" took place in several sessions at Smecky Studios in Prague throughout the summer months. A trip was made to New York City in early October for mixing and mastering. "Theyories" was released to great acclaim in late October at a release party concert held at Prague's Divadlo Archa. This coming out party was followed by a twenty-city "Theyories" promotional tour throughout the Czech and Slovak Republics in November/December.
Although "Theyories" was easily the highlight of Robert's year, there were indeed many other memorable occurrences throughout 2010. Robert traveled with bandmates Dan Bárta and Illustratosphere to the Expo 2010 in Shanghai, China for some live performances in May. Robert was a participant in the recording of legendary Czech chanson singer Hana Hegerova's latest album "Mlýnské kolo v srdci mém"which was also released late in the year (Robert is a long-time member of Hana's touring band). Robert also recorded tracks for the long-awaited new album by funk-rap group J.A.R. which should see a release in spring 2011.

Thanks for supporting the music by coming to the gigs and by buying the CDs!
Hope to see you soon in 2011!!

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The new Dan Bárta & Robert Balzar Trio album "Theyories" was released with much fanfare during a show at Prague's Divadlo Archa on October 23rd. The reception for the disc has been great and sales thus far have been brisk (special thanks to everybody who has purchased a copy)! There are many concerts scheduled in support of the new album all around both the Czech and the Slovak Republics. Please check the concert calendar on the website for details and hopefully we'll be seeing YOU at one of the upcoming shows!

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In addition to his own new album "Theyories", Robert's playing is featured on the new album by the legendary Hana Hegerová, "Mlýnské kolo v srdci mém". Robert is a long-running member of Hana's touring band and has previously worked with her in the studio. Hana's new album is riding the top of the charts now and is available from all of the usual sources. Please be sure to check it out!

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DAN BARTA & ROBERT BALZAR TRIO

While the new album is now less than three weeks from its release, here's an update on the goings-on from the past couple months... The album has been christened with the name "Theyories" and as promised, will feature interpretations of songs by a diverse range of artists. The basic tracks for the CD were laid down at Studio Smecky in Prague. The material was mixed at Sear Sound in New York City by three - time Grammy Award winning engineer James Farber (Brad Mehldau, John Scofield, Eliane Ellias, Michael Franks…).
The final step in the process was a mastering session with another multiple - Grammy winning engineer Mark Wilder
(Miles Davis, Weather Report, St.Wonder, Sting...).
We think the album is great, sounds great, and we cannot wait for everybody to hear it! Please join us at the Archa Theatre in Prague on 23 October for the CD release party!

photos

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The Robert Balzar Trio & Dan Bárta are taking their long-running live collaboration to the next level by recording an album!
The new CD is planned for an autumn 2010 release and will feature interpretations of songs by both the well-known and the not-so-well-known (e.g. The Police, Joni Mitchell, Finley Quaye, Meshell Ndegeocello, a 13th Century choral work, and so on...).
The album release party is set for 23 October at the Archa Theatre in Prague.

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If you happen to currently be in Asia or more specifically are in Shanghai, look for Dan Bárta & Illustratosphere to perform as representatives of Czech culture on 17 May at the EXPO 2010 Shanghai China.
The group will also be performing on 20 May at Shanghai's premier music club - YUYINTANG.

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A year in which Robert focused on live work kicked off in in big way in March with the Robert Balzar Trio touring the Czech Republic, Slovakia and England with guitarist John Abercrombie. In June, the Robert Balzar Trio played a five-night stand in New York City. Live Robert Balzar Trio work in the latter part of the year saw a particular focus on concerts with renowned Czech singer Dan Bárta (including dates in Spain) in preparation for the recording of a collaborative album in 2010. 2009 was also a year for anniversaries! The 10th anniversary of Dan Bárta & Illustratosphere, a group in which Robert is a founding member, was celebrated both with an April tour of Slovakia and with a September tour of the Czech Republic. November 17th marked the 20th anniversary of the formation of funk-rap band J.A.R. on the day of the Velvet Revolution. This milestone was celebrated with a November J.A.R. tour of the Czech Republic.

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This video is for the song "Nejen Ian" from the most recent Dan Barta & Illustratosphere album, "Animage"
The lead role in the video is played by Czech actor Jan Budar. Also appearing in the video are a number of family members of the band, various collaborators and assorted friends.
The video was both written and directed by Roman Tyc.

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The year 2009 marks the 10th anniversary of the founding of the group Dan Bárta & Illustratosphere.
Here is a video of Robert and Dan as a duo, performing the song "Dech" from the latest Illustratosphere album "Animage".




10th ANNIVERSARY TOUR 2009
Autumn Season - September
2. TREBON
4. PLZEN
5. MOST
6. SEMILY
11. KLADNO
12. VYSOKE MYTO
15. PRAHA
18. SEJREK
19. BRATISLAVA (SK)
22. BRNO
23. OSTRAVA
24. OLOMOUC
25. ZLIN
28. BOLESLAV

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John Abercrombie speaks about both recording with and the upcoming tour with the R Balzar Trio.
Interview 1
Interview 2

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We are happy to announce that we will be touring Bohemia, Slovakia and England with one of the greatest jazz guitarists in the world, John Abercrombie, from March 12-23.

12. BRNO
13. OSTRAVA
15. LONDON
16. LONDON
18. ČESKÉ BUDĚJOVICE
19. PŘEROV
20. USTI N/L
22. PRAHA
23. BRATISLAVA

> Go to concerts

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17.XII. was the last concert in this year of Dan Bárta & Illustratosphere...

> Photos

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Sony / BMG CD Baby
iTunes
Amazon.com

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Robert Balzar composed and recorded muic for the stage play Onehand Jack by Stefan Benni. MySpace

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DAN BARTA & ILLUSTRATOSPHERE-ANIMAGE will come out in May

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After nearly 120 concerts performing as the Trio, and in ILLUSTRATOSPHERE and J.A.R., 2007 comes to a close. In addition to the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Robert Balzar Trio successfully toured this year in Israel and Chicago, and was showcased at the Cheltenham Festival in England.
Watch this site closely and we may be coming to your area in 2008. Planned dates include Brussels and Paris in February, and a tour with John Abercrombie after the release of TALES. And of course, if you are visiting Prague, please stop by and say Hello!

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